Rubber Soul
Kevin Garnett is almost always seen with a rubberband or two on his wrists. Sometimes his right wrist, sometimes both left and right, but usually on his left. And there's actually a story behind it.

Back in the Day
When Kevin was a high school living in Mauldin, South Carolina, he was poor and couldn't afford much. His classmates were rockin' all sorts of jewelry, decked out in ice and what have you. Garnett loves jewelry, which were obviously out of the question when you're poor growing up. So the rubberband was more like a substitute, something to wear and to call his own. "The rubberband thing came from just a concept, just something in my head. I didn't have any braces or anything to wear like that, so I would just throw a rubberband on it." From then on, Garnett could not go anywhere without the rubberband. It became a part of him. On the court, it was like a sense of security - that little extra boost.

Snap Out of It
Rubberbands are practical, too. I'll let Kevin speak for himself: "One day, I'll never forget, I was playing ball, and I did something...I think I reached for the ball, and my man, whoever I reached on, I think the guy caught me and popped me and sorta like taught me a lesson. And I never forget, he said 'I'm gonna teach you, I'm gonna teach you to start reaching for the ball.' So I always reflect back to that day when I reached and he popped my rubber band, on accident. But I still know the significance of the popping of the rubberband, so ever since then, whenever I do something stupid, whenever I do something that I knew I wasn't supposed to do, I pop myself."

How Many Rubberbands Can I Buy with $126 million...?
After signing a six year contract worth $126,000,000 before the 1997-1998 season, Garnett could afford all the jewlry he wanted - and he did just that. But that rubberband still has a place in his heart. He continues to wear it on and off the court. The jarring juxtaposition of a homely rubberband and an expensive platinum wristwatch is kind of cool - if not charming. Garnett clearly hasn't forgotten his roots. That rubberband carried him, and got him to where he is today. KG is still KG.

Wordstretch
Around 1999, P. Puff Industries owner Ave Green launched her own company line, which she called Wordstretch. For Green, rubberbands were simple and inexpensive way to accessorize. Hoping to ignite a trend, she designed special rubberbands that are meant to be worn by people. They come in all sorts of colors, with little catchy phrases, words, or inspirations inscribed in them. I like the ones that say, "Hope," "Don't Harsh My Mellow," "What Would Scooby Doo?," "Snap Out of It." There are NBA basketball-specific ones available too. Customers can even have them custom made, and order them in bundles. Waiting for flight from New York to Minneapolis, Ave Green met Kevin Garnett and Green met at an airport. She approached Garnett and told him about her product. Garnett was enthused and ended up being a very loyal customer. "He took pity on little ol' dorky me," said Green. Garnett now wears Wordstretch rubberbands. Today, many other players in the NBA are sporting Wordstretch rubberbands: Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Darius Miles, Lamar Odom, Jermaine O'Neal, to name a few.