Thanks to Power Sports Memorabilia and to Dennis Rodman for the cool auto....
Kevin Garnett Signing Recap: Behind the Scenes & Collector Tips
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes at a major athlete signing, this Kevin Garnett signing recap is for you. I’m Matt Powers from Powers Sports Memorabilia, and I just got back from Southern California after getting a stack of KG items signed—cards, jerseys, basketballs, and inscriptions.
This trip had everything: California traffic, price surges, a surprisingly great hotel breakfast, and Kevin Garnett running the signing like he was still running the court. Here’s how it went, what collectors should know, and a few real-world lessons that can save you time, money, and headaches on your next autograph order.
Quick Update: We’re Searchable on Instagram Now
Funny story: our new hire Jack tried to tag us on Instagram after his first signing run… and couldn’t find our account. Turns out if your name doesn’t include your searchable brand terms, Instagram can bury you.
So we updated our name to Powers Sports Memorabilia, and now we’re easier to find. If you’ve had trouble searching us before, that should be fixed.
Why Southern California Is a Tough Place for Signings
A Kevin Garnett signing in Southern California makes sense because that’s where he’s based—but from a logistics standpoint, it’s one of the most expensive places to work.
Here’s a real example:
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I landed near rush hour
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Uber for 30 miles was $175
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I rented a car instead for $109
Between traffic, fees, and constant “charges on top of charges,” California can turn a simple signing trip into a budget killer fast.
The Best Hack: Fly Into Burbank
If you’re ever traveling for a signing in the LA area, Burbank airport is the move. It’s simple, quick, and reminds me of the old-school airports where you could go from curb to gate in minutes.
If you hate big airport chaos, Burbank is the kind of place that makes flying feel easy again.
Kevin Garnett Ran the Signing Himself
I hadn’t worked directly with KG before, so I asked around to get a feel for how he handles signings.
What surprised me most: Kevin basically ran the whole room.
He walked in, greeted everyone (which always sets a great vibe), then immediately started organizing the signing flow:
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“Let’s do mail order first.”
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“No, switch—do cards now.”
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“Now basketballs.”
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“No inscriptions yet… okay, now inscriptions.”
It was chaotic in the moment because it disrupted the usual process—but it was also cool to see an athlete fully engaged and taking control of how he wanted to work.
Kevin Garnett Stories: Cupcakes and the Stanley Cup
Kevin is absolutely a character. He was talking about his diet and said:
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Monday–Friday: eats clean
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Saturday–Sunday: he’s a “cupcake guy”
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Monday: feels terrible and starts over
Then the Stanley Cup came up, and he joked that you never see people again after they drink out of it—like it’s some kind of hockey curse. Classic KG.
Collector Tip: Pen Choice Matters (Especially on Chrome Cards)
This signing included a great lesson that every collector should know:
Not every pen works on every card.
We had a customer request silver paint pen on a Chrome-style card. In person, it looked like it wasn’t even signed. So we did what we always do when a fix is possible:
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Wiped it clean using sanitizer wipes (Chrome cards allow this)
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Tried white paint pen — streaky and ugly
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Wiped it again
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Signed it a third time using Shock Blue — perfect
Same card. Same signer. Three different pen outcomes.
Best practice: If you’re unsure what color will show best on a specific card, ask us before the signing. It can save the autograph.
How We Handle Photo Proof + Shipping
We posted photos from the KG signing on Instagram, and we try to capture as many customer items as possible.
Shipping-wise:
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Cards usually fly back with me because they’re small and easier to get out faster
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Larger items (basketballs, canvases, etc.) ship later and generally land the following week
Our priority is always:
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correct inscriptions
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clean signatures
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no missed items
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and fixing issues when we can
Final Grade: A “B+” Signing (And Why That’s Honest)
If I’m grading this Kevin Garnett signing, I’d give it a B+.
Not because anything went wrong on a major level, but because KG signs fast, changes the flow, and you have to adjust on the fly. When athletes move quickly and do things their own way, it can make certain items tougher—especially paint pens on certain surfaces.
But overall:
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items came out strong
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most photos were captured
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fixes were made where possible
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and we got everything handled
That’s a win.
Final Thoughts
Signings like this are exactly why collectors work with a team that’s experienced and prepared. Between travel logistics, pen selection, card surfaces, and inscription management, a lot can go wrong—but most problems are preventable with the right process.
If you want to see photos from the signing, check our Instagram. And if you’ve got items you want to send in for upcoming signings, keep an eye on the website.
Visit: powerssportsmemorabilia.com
Follow: @PowersAutographs
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Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 4967 reviews.
The autographs turned out better than I could have imagined. Was a pleasant experience from sending to receiving back the items. You have a customer for life.
Nice big autograph!
Great autograph on this giant 2XL jersey
Power Sports was very helpful. They will answer any questions throughout the process of getting your Autograph. And they packed very well when they ship it back to you.
Another great looking signature added to my team signed helmet. It is great to get notifications throughout the process and using UPS is great to protect my items.
Nice autograph signed by former NY Mets great. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Amazing customer service
Very straight forward process and the item lived up to expectations!
I’ve been holding on to this hat forever!! Finally got the opportunity to get it signed NBA legend Alex English.. Courtesy of Powers Sports!
Everything went smooth from ordering the autograph to receiving my item promptly and Natalie was very helpful and responsive with the questions I had.
Again, PSM did a great job!
Nice autograph by Roger Clemens himself. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Nice autograph by Cal Ripken Jr. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Nice autograph. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Another perfect autograph on my 3000 hit baseball. Always a great experience! Thanks again.
I've had this card since the age of 12. Never had the opportunity until now to get his RC signed. Thanks Matt for making this happen!!
Once again, Matt and his team delivered a smooth, professional experience in obtaining a Dustin Pedroia autograph (with authentication) to a book already containing a number of Red Sox greats’ signatures. I recommend Powers Spirts Memorabilia highly.
Great experience. Card was just as described. Excited to have this added to the collection.
Frank Thomas 1990 Topps Signed Baseball Rookie Card #414B Auto Graded Beckett 10
The COA was placed exactly where I wanted it and it turned out great. Always an easy experience.
An excellent experience with the team. The ball turned out perfectly. Easy to ship the ball in and it returned after signing without an issue.
Great place to do business with. Thank you!
Fernando Tatis Jr 2019 Topps Baseball Rookie Card RC #410 Graded PSA 9 MINT
😍 such a nice autograph! Thank you!
Thank you for another awesome autograph!
Mr. Powers delivered on my request for this Cal Ripken jr. autograph. It was a nice size clean and perfect signature better than I expected. Mr. Powers team is quick to respond with any concerns you may have and keeps you posted on your item. I will absolutely be getting more signatures through them to finish my collection. I highly recommend Powers Sports to anyone that has any doubts. I use to do send ins with Steiner sports until he sold, to me Powers picked up where they left off and I couldnt be happier. Thank you
Great experience as usual! I’ll definitely be getting more autographs in the future!!
As good as it gets
Smooth transaction
The process was smooth and easy as always.
Awesome!
The color match ink auto looks great! Thanks!
A fantastic addition to the set. Bosh's autograph really pops on this one. Thanks!
This might be the only autograph of this card that has his whole auto on it. Great addition to the collection!
The COA wasn't close to where I asked for it to be placed. I'm not sure how this was missed but it was a bummer when I saw that.
This came back amazing! The autograph was very clean! Thanks!
This completes my set of sketch cards. It's been fun doing this.
This was just the COA. Thanks!
It's awesome to get this one back! Another added to the Collection.
Great job by Powers Sports once again! They were able to secure a great signature from Andy Reid on my trading card, using the exact type pen and the exact location that I requested. Accuracy and quality are their top priority!
I submitted 2 cards to get them signed by Patrick Ewing himself. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
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