"I'm from the bottom, I understand what it's like to have and to not have. My perception on giving is to put yourself in those people's shoes and go from there. So that's what I did"
About this Quote
Garnett is doing something athletes rarely get credit for: translating the mythology of the self-made star into a practical ethic. “I’m from the bottom” isn’t just biography; it’s a claim to authority in a culture that constantly doubts the sincerity of rich people’s generosity. He’s preempting the eye-roll: this isn’t charity as image management, it’s charity as memory.
The line “to have and to not have” is blunt, almost childlike, and that’s the point. It frames poverty and wealth not as abstract systems but as lived weather - you’re in it or you’re not. That framing helps him dodge the usual philanthropic script about “giving back,” which can sound like a victory lap. Instead, he offers a method: empathy as due diligence. “Put yourself in those people’s shoes” is basically a scouting report for compassion, the same mindset that made him great on the court - read the situation, anticipate needs, act.
The subtext is also defensive, in a good way. When he says “those people,” there’s a split: he’s acknowledging he’s no longer there, even if he came from there. The promise is that success hasn’t erased the sense-memory of scarcity. In the era of athlete activism and branded foundations, Garnett’s appeal is credibility over polish: giving that starts not with a press release, but with the discomfort of remembering exactly what “not have” feels like.
The line “to have and to not have” is blunt, almost childlike, and that’s the point. It frames poverty and wealth not as abstract systems but as lived weather - you’re in it or you’re not. That framing helps him dodge the usual philanthropic script about “giving back,” which can sound like a victory lap. Instead, he offers a method: empathy as due diligence. “Put yourself in those people’s shoes” is basically a scouting report for compassion, the same mindset that made him great on the court - read the situation, anticipate needs, act.
The subtext is also defensive, in a good way. When he says “those people,” there’s a split: he’s acknowledging he’s no longer there, even if he came from there. The promise is that success hasn’t erased the sense-memory of scarcity. In the era of athlete activism and branded foundations, Garnett’s appeal is credibility over polish: giving that starts not with a press release, but with the discomfort of remembering exactly what “not have” feels like.
Quote Details
| Topic | Kindness |
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