Bill Walker has forgiven Kevin Garnett after running into his former Celtics teammate by the team bus after Sunday’s NBA season-opener.
According to an NBA source, Garnett won’t be suspended for shoving Walker in the throat after the final buzzer of the Knicks’ 106-104 victory. The hit sent Walker into a blind rage, and the Knicks’ swingman had to be restrained for 30 seconds and dragged off the court by team officials.
“When I was leaving the arena, I talked to him,’’ Walker said yesterday. “We’re both competitors; we wanted to win. Emotions run high when you play at that level. We shook hands.’’
Garnett’s potential game-tying shot missed at the buzzer, with Walker contesting. It appeared Walker said something to Garnett, who grabbed Walker’s hand and squeezed it, then shoved him.
After the game, Walker said Garnett’s actions were “disrespectful.’’ He added Garnett’s reputation is as a thuggish player.
“You know what the man does,’’ Walker said.
By yesterday, Walker had calmed down. He and Garnett were teammates in Boston, but Walker said he didn’t have bad memories of those times.
“I still respect those guys,’’ Walker said. “It was in the heat of the moment.’’