Kevin Garnett reunites with fat shirtless Timberwolves fan (VIDEO)

Kevin Garnett got a rousing introduction during his return to Minnesota — after a not-so-joyous stint with the Nets — and got a chance to rekindle his relationship with the dude who dances shirtless at Timberwolves games.

And KG reciprocated the love:

Never saw him smile like that in Brooklyn.

Jason Kidd calls out Nets after Christmas blowout: Report

The only thing uglier than the Brooklyn Nets soccer uniforms Wednesday afternoon was the embarrassing 95-78 loss to the Chicago Bulls on their home court.

There was only about a minute  left in the third quarter when the chants of “Fire Kidd” briefly ran through the crowd at Barclays Center on Christmas Day, a loud commentary on the fate of first-year coach Jason Kidd if the fans got what they wanted under their trees.

When that chant failed to catch on, the fans instead took to intermittently booing the entire team.

After the game, an exasperated Kidd called his players out in the locker room, according to an ESPN report.  

"At the end of the day, the coach can only hold you responsible for energy and effort," he said. "If you're not giving it, I have to take you out. If you're missing shots, that's just part of the game. But if you're not giving energy or effort, I've got to take you out."

Not only did Kidd chew out the team, but team leader, Kevin Garnett, reportedly vented his own frustration with the listless team before hitting the showers.

Tired and upset with a lack of effort, Kidd's outburst came after the Nets dropped their fourth straight game. The first-year head coach said Monday after a 103-86 loss to Indiana that the Nets were becoming too comfortable with losing. He said it again on Christmas Day.

"I think again, it's easy, it's simple," Kidd told reporters after Wednesday's rout. "When we don't put the ball in the basket or we miss shots that are makeable, it translates to our defense of transition for us where we'll give up a layup and then that turns into another layup for the opposing team. ... That is the carryover of missing shots and not giving the effort. The bottom line is effort, and we're not doing that right now."

The Nets signed a group of All-Stars and high-priced veterans in direct response to the humbling Game 7 loss to Chicago in the playoffs last season, acquiring superstars Garnett and Paul Pierce, among others.

But the team has been ravaged by injuries to key players, including Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Pierce,Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko. Lopez broke his foot Friday and has been ruled out for remainder of the season.

The Nets wanted to increase their toughness by adjusting an attitude and identity that Kidd described as “vanilla” when he arrived.

You could say he got a big bowl of Rocky Road instead.

Jason Kidd: Nets were too 'vanilla' last season

Jason Kidd sounded more like a Ben & Jerry's taste-tester than the Brooklyn Nets new head coach on Tuesday.

The first year coach set a goal yesterday to change the Nets' identity, from the bland tasting squad which fell flat last last season to a more flavorful blend of competitors.  Kidd understands that GM Billy King did most of the prep work already — acquiring the necessary ingredients to make a champion — on draft night with a blockbuster trade.

"I think the identity," Kidd said at the PNY Center. "It was just vanilla [last season] and I think you guys can see after the trade with [Kevin] Garnett and [Paul] Pierce that it's kind of changed. So, I think we're doing the right thing with changing the identity. It was just there was no flavor and no identity. So with that trade, that changes the whole game."

Kidd is confident, but nervous.

"I think I've always been nervous before every game," he said. "You ask any trainer, I've always taken Pepto just to settle my nerves, because basketball's always been something that you can never control. It's something that you just don't know how it's going to turn out, but once the ball is up in the air, your nerves tend to go away, you just respond and react.

"And so I am nervous, but the nice thing is that we do have some talented players who know how to play, who want to be coached and it's exciting. I think it's an exciting nervousness and I'm very excited about this opportunity."

The arrival of Garnett and Pierce, paired with other new additions like Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko, gives the Nets one of the NBA's top starting fives to go along with quality depth. As they get set to start training camp at Duke in six days, Kidd said one of his most pressing challenges is figuring out the different floor combinations he's hoping to use because the Nets easily can go two deep at every position.

He also has to concoct a plan for Garnett, whom Kidd previously said he wouldn't play in the second ends of back-to-backs, believing it's the best way to preserve the 37-year-old's legs and body so he'll be fresh and available for the postseason. Garnett rejected the idea.

Get more Pepto. Sounds like there's already too many cooks in Kidd's kitchen.

Paul Pierce happy to be 'glorified role player' with Nets

There is an "I" in Paul Pierce but, when it comes to the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA star claims there won't be one there this season.

If you look at the old version of the Nets, you might see an NBA squad already loaded with big names — up-and-coming Brook Lopez, one of the best shooting guards in Joe Johnson, and a top point guard in Deron Williams — and wonder how they could fill the roster with any more.

Mix in newcomer veterans Pierce and Kevin Garnett and it now leaves the Nets with a Klieg light-wattage of names on the roster.  Just for fun, throw in other well-known role players like Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko and you've got a cast bigger than Ocean's Twelve.

Now, the former Boston Celtics forward is looking at the makeup of the Nets and claims he is willing to step out of the spotlight with a supporting role with the team as a "glorified role player."

Think DeNiro sharing the bill with Pacino (Okay, D-Will can be Val Kilmer) in Heat.

Pierce told the Boston Globe he's fine with giving up a leading part on the team if it leads to a blockbuster finish at the end of the season.

"There will definitely be less pressure on me on this ball club than there was in Boston," Pierce said. "In Boston, I was the No. 1 primary option. Here we have so many options. We have young All-Stars on this team. My job is to be more of a glorified role player, as Doc [Rivers] used to always say, with the guys we have.

"With my abilities to do so many things, there's going to be nights where I'm not going to score a bunch of points. I can do other things to help this club win. With the combination of these guys, we're going to take pressure off each other."

Pierce — who averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds last season — hasn't been a role player, probably ever, in his basketball life, but isn't ready for the TNT broadcast booth just yet.

The future Hall of Famer could possibly lead this team as a scorer if asked to, and it wouldn't be a desperate move by Jason Kidd. However, to maximize everybody's abilities, the Nets have to get older guys like Pierce and Garnett to sacrifice their own individual games if they are going to save their bodies in the suddenly rough-and-tough NBA East over a long season.

Let's say the Nets decide they need Kirilenko to start at small forward for defensive purposes and bring Pierce off the bench as a scorer, it remains to be seen if Pierce will be open to playing second banana.

And the award for best player in a Nets supporting role goes to ...

Jason Kidd on Deron Williams: 'He's better than me'

Jason Kidd is considered one of the greatest point guards in NBA history but, as the new Brooklyn Nets head coach, the future Hall of Famer may have a knack for throwing assists to his players off the court as well.

Kidd, who led a group of no-name Nets to consecutive NBA Finals a decade ago, actually believes the Nets now have a better point guard in Deron Williams than his teams did with Kidd as the floor captain.

"He's better than me. I mean, he can shoot," said Kidd, who was the same age, 29, during the 2002 NBA Finals days as Williams is now. "He's a guy who can set the table, he can get to the basket, he can score. I don't look at him as me. Again, he's a little bit better than I am."

Kidd's humble opinion of himself might be a big ego boost for Williams — and boy, can the maligned Net use it.

Williams has seen more downs than ups since joining the Nets in 2011. He has struggled with injuries, weight gain and low expectations on a rebuilding roster in New Jersey. Last season, the first in Brooklyn,  he missed the All-Star game for the first time in four years.

But Williams benefitted from good health and a physical makeover following the All-Star break (he shed 15-to-20 pounds while changing his diet), returning to his Utah form for the greater part of two months.

And he has better supporting cast in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Brook Lopez.

Williams will still have to become a leader on a team now flush with with experienced NBA champions who bring high expectations with them.

"I want to (Williams) to be him," Kidd said Friday. "I want him to be the basketball player that we all know he can be. We're going to set lofty goals where as a coaching staff and teammates put him in a position to reach them."

While Williams is a better scorer than Kidd, he has a lot more to prove as a leader and all-around producer. That's what the Nets are hoping Kidd can bring out out of his floor leader.

Kidd said he'll allow Williams the freedom to call his own plays, as well as orchestrate his teammates in read-and-react situations.

"Just recognizing the situation," Kidd said. "Deron is a very gifted guard, so for me it's about mentally talking to him about different situations and get what he's thinking so we can both be on the same page."

Williams, who returned to his home in Utah for the summer, grew up in Dallas idolizing Kidd. Both have insisted their friendship won't get in the way of their new partnership.

"We're in a family," Kidd said. "My job is to put the guys in position to be successful. His job is to execute. We are friends. But I'm also friends with other players.

"I can't say I will favor or lean on whoever is playing the point because I have four other guys I have to pay attention to."

But Kidd knows — better than anyone — it starts with the PG.

Nets looking to add openly-gay Collins to roster: Report

The Brooklyn Nets keep finding ways to keep their locker room interesting — and complicated. And the next potential Nets move might not be blockbusting but it would be trailblazing.

After announcing an NBA-rocking trade — to become official July 10 — that will bring seasoned veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Barclays Center, a source confirmed Friday that the Nets' organization has discussed signing free-agent center Jason Collins, the first openly gay male basketball player.

The 34-year-old Collins, who revealed his sexuality in a Sports Illustrated article last spring, is no stranger to the Nets' organization. He was teammates with Nets coach Jason Kidd for seven seasons in New Jersey, where they both played under current Brooklyn assistant Lawrence Frank.

Although the Nets may not need another big man, Collins' "name was brought up," said a well-connected source.

Collins, who advanced to two finals with the Nets, has bounced around the league as a backup since leaving New Jersey. He played last season with Garnett and Pierce in Boston, but was released before joining the Wizards.

Although the Nets have interest in Collins, there isn't much room on the roster for another physical presence in the paint. Not only did the Nets draft Duke center Mason Plumlee on Thursday, their blockbuster trade evolved Friday morning so that they are keeping bruising forward Reggie Evans and dealing swingman MarShon Brooks to the Celtics, a source said.

Collins has not played since announcing he was gay in April, so the next time he steps on the court will be a front-page event. And for the Nets, who have been making headlines lately by hiring Kidd and completing the trade for Garnett and Pierce, it's a chance to represent a different kind of Brooklyn — which is home to a large gay and lesbian community.

"It's certainly better than Utah or other communities that are not as cosmopolitan," said sports marketing expert Marc Ganis, adding that such a move could help the Nets win over Brooklyn residents who remain angry about the way the Barclays Center was imposed on the neighborhood.

"It is a demonstration that the Nets are a socially progressive organization. To people who opposed it (the Barclays Center) it could be a relevant factor."

Carmelo Anthony taunted by Timberwolves fan about KG before game

Carmelo Anthony's wife Lala reportedly tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios according to Kevin Garnett but one flaky fan in Minnesota sounds like he is just plain nuts.

Anthony was confronted by a trash-talking Timberwolves fan — while entering the Target Center Friday night — who harassed the Knicks star about Garnett. The obsessed man taunted Anthony about  his Celtics rival and followed Anthony into the Knicks' locker room, according to The New York Post.

Where are James Dolan and his audio recording devices when you really need them?

The fan reportedly snuck by security when the Knicks players filed into the arena.  He yelled at Anthony, "KG, KG. You don't know who Kevin Garnett is?"

A startled Anthony shouted back, "Why are you following me? Why are you following me?" before slipping into the locker room.

The Fruit Loopy fan was immediately kicked out of the building by the arena and Knicks security but was not arrested.

Garnett — who played 12 seasons in Minnesota — and Anthony engaged in a widely publicized trash talking incident at Madison Square Garden last month in which KG reportedly made the flavorful comment about Anthony's wife.  The two players had to separated after Anthony waited for Garnett outside the arena after the game.

Anthony ended up shredding the T'wolves for 36 point in the Knicks 100-94 win.

Carmelo unaware he was 'miked up' but laughs it off

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said he was unaware that he was miked up during two games last weekend, on the special orders of owner James Dolan, and claims he doesn't care.

Anthony laughed off the notion that the team had planted two audio technicians with disk-shaped recording devices on both ends of the court to tape his on-court chats with other players.

Dolan reportedly did it to protect his star player from another Kevin Garnett type "he said-she said" incident which led to a one-game suspension for Anthony.

"I don't care about microphones," Anthony told the New York Post after he and his wife, La La, arrived at the team hotel in London for Thursday night's game against the Pistons.  "I wasn't aware of it.  I found out on the plane [trip]."

Anthony wasn't overly concerned about the on-court bugging, but doesn't understand why the team resorted to such tactics.

"I don't think the mikes are going to stop what's goes on out on the court," he said.  "But it was funny when I heard it.  No, I wasn't upset.  Not at all."

The gadgets were secretly used during last Friday's game against the Bulls and Sunday's game against the Hornets after Garnett reportedly got under Anthony's skin by saying his wife "tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios."  Anthony was suspended one game after he waited outside for Garnett and the two men had to be separated.

The third Mike on the court — Knicks head coach Mike Woodson — said he hasn't quizzed Dolan on what his boss was up to.

"That's not my concern," said Woodson.  "It really isn't.  When I step on the floor I'm not thinking about camera guys.  All I'm focused on is the guys running up and down the court. If the cameras are there, they're there.  I don't know anything about it."

The Knicks have declined to comment on their little Spygate and the NBA has said the team did nothing wrong.

Knicks using high-tech mics to record Melo's on-court chats

The New York Knicks were suspected of using high-tech microphones to record the on-court chats of their star player Carmelo Anthony — and now there is photographic evidence to prove it.

The New York Post has photos of one of the technicians holding the small dish-shaped gadget at Sunday's game against the New Orleans Hornets.

The Knicks little Spygate has been cracked according to Post writer Fred Kerber:

"League sources have confirmed Knicks owner James Dolan, in the wake of the highly volatile trash-talking war between star Carmelo Anthony and the Celtics’ Kevin Garnett last week, ordered two technicians to hold high-tech, sensitive microphones at opposite ends of the Madison Square Garden court to record all in-game conversations by and around his star."

According to a league source, the decision to employ the microphones was made to protect Anthony from another "he said-she-said" dispute by actually recording what was said on the court.

This is the result of the infamous trash talking incident between Anthony and Garnett and the ensuing postgame altercation in a tunnel outside Madison Square Garden.

The league is not disturbed by the Knicks blatant use of the recording gizmos.

"There are no prohibitions against having audio equipment in the arena," an NBA spokesperson said.

Carmelo: I'm definitely going to get a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios after 15-day fast ends

Carmelo Anthony said he was so hungry after his annual 15-day fast was ending Sunday that he was even ready to have a bowl of — you guessed it — Honey Nut Cheerios.

Just six days after Anthony got into it with Kevin Garnett — after the Celtics smack talker got under his skin by reportedly telling Melo, "Your wife tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios" during a Knicks-Celtics game last Monday —  the Knicks star put a humorous buzz on his rival's heckling.

"I'm definitely going to get a bowl of that, for sure," a grinning Anthony said at the launch of his new signature sneaker, Air Jordan Melo M9, at the Wall Street restaurant Cipriani.

Melo served a one-game suspension for waiting for Garnett inside the Madison Square Garden tunnel where the Celtics team bus was idling after Garnett's crude remark on the court.  The two players had to be separated by MSG security.

On Sunday, Anthony was a lot mellower and seems to have put the episode behind him, after leading the Knicks to a 100-87 win over the New Orleans Hornets, but still wouldn't confirm what Garnett said to rile him up.

The Knicks star characterized it as "something you don't say to men."

"Like I said, whatever was said was said out there on the court," Anthony explained.  "It happened. He said it.  We handled like we're supposed to handle it.  We talked . We move on."

He did say he was in the middle of his 15-day fast to gain "clarity" when Garnett mouthed off on the court.

"Today is my last day," Anthony said of his fasting and said he was ready to eat "whatever I see."

Besides the sugary breakfast cereal, Anthony said, "I need to eat something ... Maybe some chicken, maybe a steak, I don't know."

As for life on the other home court, things taste more like Shredded Wheat.

Sources said Anthony and his wife La La Vasquez are having marital problems and she didn't show up for the sneaker unveiling as planned.  Anthony, who was there with his 5-year-old son Kiyan, downplayed her absence.

"We have our time. We have our down time," he said.  "She works. I work. We make it work. Communication is the key."

Anthony ends his fast right before the Knicks head to London for a game against the Detroit Pistons in The O2 Arena Thursday.

Enjoy those butties and mushy peas Melo.

La La wants to cash in on KG's breakfast cereal trash talk

The center of Monday night's altercation between Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett — Melo's estranged wife La La Anthony — finally weighed in on the two NBA stars almost coming to blows over KG's reported on-the-court assertion that she "tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios."

A smiling La La showed up at the Manhattan restaurant Serendipity Thursday night sporting a pair of $1,695 knee-high Givenchy boots and sounded like she was hoping to cash in on the breakfast cereal's new found notoriety with all three parties involved.

The reality TV star sent this light-hearted sweet tweet on her Twitter account:

"Not for nothing, but we ALL deserve a check or free cereal 4all the publicity we've given Honey Nut Cheerios! LOL!" she tweeted at #cantbelieveeverything.

La La knows what's buzz-worthy and was a lot Melo-er than her husband about the verbal jab.

Her tweet was a text book example of how to get free stuff in a passive-aggressive, Kardashian reality TV kind of way.

Melo will sit out game, KG walks after altercation

Kevin Garnett might have said Carmelo Anthony's wife LaLa tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios, but the Knicks forward probably wishes she was a box of Lucky Charms after the NBA suspended Melo one game for confronting Garnett for Monday's post-game skirmish.

The suspension will be served tonight against the Indiana Pacers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Anthony defended his actions after Monday night's loss — when he confronted Garnett in the parking garage by the Celtics' team bus — by claiming his foe crossed the line with his trash talk and he just wanted to clear the air.  Video showed that the two players almost came to blows and had to be separated by Madison Square Garden security guards. The Knicks star didn't think he should be suspended.

NBA disciplinarian, Stu Jackson,  saw things differently and benched Anthony one game.  He will be docked 1/110th of his $19.5 million salary — which boils down to $176,000.

Anthony flew to Indianapolis with the team because the NBA's ruling wasn't announced until late Wednesday.  He will not be permitted inside the arena tonight.

"There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront and opponent after a game," said Jackson.  "Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday's game and therefore a suspension was warranted."

Anthony would not go into details about what was said during or after the game but an Anthony confidant said the Knicks player had "a very good reason" to go after Garnett.

"That's over with, "said Anthony. "As far as what happened with me and Kevin, that's settled, done and over with.  I don't want to keep talking about the same thing and beating a dead horse, no disrespect."

Last night, Garnett walked out his postgame interview against the Suns after the Celtics forward was asked about the confrontation.  He was not disciplined.

The next meeting Jan. 24 in Boston should be magically delicious.

NEW VIDEO: 'Melo and KG almost came to blows inside tunnel

New video has surfaced showing that Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett did meet up outside after Monday night's Knicks-Celtics game and looked more ready to tangle than just talk.

TMZ posted a video of Garnett approaching Anthony inside the Madison Square Garden tunnel where the Boston team bus was waiting and its pretty clear both men were ready to take it to another level.

In the video, the players can be seen talking a lot of smack before aggressively approaching each other as swarms of security scramble to keep them apart. TMZ claims the barely audible tape contains a lot of the n-word mixed in with the cursing.

Anthony has claimed he was only waiting to talk to the Celtics player after Garnett "crossed a line" by commenting about 'Melo's wife LaLa Vazquez and a heated exchange on the court.

Previous video showed 'Melo just standing around waiting for KG like it was "High Noon" at a school bus stop.

This video clearly shows that things could have escalated if MSG security and a few of NYPD's Finest hadn't intervened before KG boarded the bus.



Anthony's post-game pursuit of Garnett has resulted in an NBA investigation for possible discipline, but the Knicks star says his actions don't warrant any punishment.  He claims he just wanted to hug it out with his antagonist and nothing more.

Thug it out is more like it, according to the video.

"There's some things that you just don't say to men, another man," Anthony said. "I felt like he crossed the line."

A source said the Knicks forward has since spoke to Garnett and cleared the air.

"We have an understanding right now," said 'Melo.  "That situation was handled."

The NBA might still have something to say about that.

As of the latest All-Star balloting, Anthony and Garnett are leading as starters for the East front court and will likely share time on the court.  Mark your calenders for the weekend of Feb. 15-17 in Houston.

Hope they don't have to share a bus.

Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler only makes All-Defensive Second Team

Was Tyson Chandler slighted with his All-Defensive Second Team selection? For the New York Knicks center, the second straight  Second Team pick is nice— if not a bit perplexing— especially since he was already named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

Since that award is voted on by the media, the All-defensive Team honor comes from all 30 NBA coaches with one important rule— coaches can't vote for their own players.

Dwight Howard— who had won three DPOY awards prior to this season— was nominated to the first team in Chandler's place.  He was joined by LeBron James and shot-blocking phenom Serge Ibaka and guards Chris Paul and Tony Allen.

Chandler was joined on the second team by Kevin Garnett, Luol Deng, Rajon Rondo and Kobe Bryant.

Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin was confused by the slight and even questioned the logic behind Chandler's snub via Twitter.

Lin tweeted: "im no genius or anything but someone explain how @tysonchandler is defensive player of the year but not make the nba all-defensive team."

He did go to Harvard.

Chandler did have more points (36 overall and 13 first-team votes) than both Allen and Paul, but since only one center can be nominated per team, the honor went to Howard (16 first-place and 41 overall points).

If it was any consolation to Chandler, his teammate rookie Iman Shumpert received honorable mention after getting one first-place vote and 13 overall.

Howard's team, the Orlando Magic actually regressed from one of the top-three defensive teams to No. 13 last season while Chandler helped turn the Knicks into defensive force.