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Kevin Garnett is one of the USA'a best-known non-soccer athletes who enjoys the sport in training, recreationally, and watching on TV.  Just prior to the 2007-08 season, his first with the Celtics, Garnett talked about how he was following the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and Premiership; he also attended two Premier League matches when the team went to London for exhibition basketball games before that season.

He also has visited numerous pro teams' training camps and attended Major League Soccer matches.  During this year's NBA playoffs and Finals, he shot videos (both official and just-for-fun) incorporating soccer, including one that was used for a TV commercial.

Garnett's passion mirrors another one of the highest-profile NBA stars, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, someone who Garnett discusses in this new interview for ESPN by Frank Dell'apa.  Like Nash, who has also done TV commercials including soccer themes and who uses the sport in his training, Garnett has helped to bring new fans to the sport.  Here is a some of what Garnett said about his love of soccer this past week...

excerpt from the new ESPN article by Frank Dell'apa:

Garnett was introduced to the sport by a boyhood friend, Bug Peters.

"Bug played when he was young and he is a huge soccer fan," Garnett said. "About six or seven years ago, when YouTube first came out, there was some footage of Ronaldinho on there. Freestyle was big at that time and I just gravitated towards it.

"I play a lot of video games. I got on a video game and that teaches you the players and their style. Now, you want to get better at the game so you really watch it and it makes it all come full circle, of becoming a fan and appreciating the sport."

Garnett's favorite soccer-related video games?

"FIFA '09, World Cup, Euro League. I enjoy it all."

Favorite players?

"Ronaldinho, Didier Drogba, I like watching Cristiano Ronaldo. Wayne Rooney is a tough kid -- I enjoy watching him. Lionel Messi. Frank Lampard and John Terry of Chelsea."

Read the complete ESPN article here