Every all-time great player has a signature.

Not something cosmetic like Michael Jordan’s wagging tongue, but a true stamp that they’re always be remembered for specifically. While many people will always associate Jordan with the tongue, more people will speak about his killer instinct and the dominance that was built because of it.

Kevin Garnett has a signature, maybe the best signature to have in team sports. Over his 15-year career many people have marveled at his unmatched intensity. It’s so strong that his true signature isn’t talked about nearly as much as it should be.

Garnett is an incredible leader, the best leader the NBA has seen since Michael Jordan and perhaps the best in all of professional sports today. He has a unique ability to make his teammates raise their individual expectations and perform far beyond their talent.

Garnett’s leadership is the key to his success.

It’s stronger than Shaquille O’Neal in the post. More effective than Tim Duncan on the block and has more of an impact than Kobe Bryant’s ability to score off the dribble. Had Garnett been able to play with All-Star level players like the other great players, he could be the centerpiece of his own dynasty.

He makes everyone feel as if they’re great and accepts nothing less than a great and total effort.

“He not only talks the talk, he walks the walk,” Paul Pierce said. “He sets a certain tone in practice and expects a certain level of play. As a player you can only respect that and feed off of it. As great as he is he works at an extreme level and you usually don’t see that from the players at his level.”

Garnett understands that most people won’t follow a person that won’t match the effort they ask of their team. That extends beyond basketball for the 14-time All-Star. In everything he does, on and off the court, he makes it a point to reciprocate the passion and effort he asks from others.

“My style of leadership is from an example of establishing what’s expected,” Garnett said. “The best way to get guys to buy in is to let them see you working hard.”

“I don’t think someone is going to listen to anyone that doesn’t do the things they ask of others. Anything I’ve ever done has been in an effort to try and set the tone, be the example and establish the level that we’re going to practice.”

His methods have been noticed, embraced and appreciated by his teammates.

“He’s very vocal but also leads by example,” Ray Allen said. “He’s going to do everything he needs to do to set examples in the locker room, but he’ll step up and call you out if you’re not doing your job.”

The future Hall of Famer understood at an early age that the most important part of leadership was inclusion. While he is one of the few players that had the ability to dominate, his understanding that long-term success is based on a team effort allowed him to embrace an unselfish mentality regardless of wins or losses.

“I’ve always been someone that has looked forward to trying to make the next person better,” Garnett said. “Being more passive myself to try to include everybody, that’s how I was taught.

“I’ve always been taught to play basketball the right way. It was never about me. I was taught that there are four other guys out there and we’re a team”

Garnett’s impact as a leader wasn’t something all of his Celtics teammates knew about prior to his arrival.

“I’ve personally known Kevin for some time,” Pierce said. “I saw the things he did in Minnesota but didn’t know he was such a great leader. You have to respect the way he goes about things. You have no choice but to pick up your play.”

The lessons in leadership came early for Garnett.

While in a youngster in Minnesota, Garnett was taught the importance of professionalism and how being a pro would help him become successful in a tough business.

“Terry Porter and Sam Mitchell were my veterans,” Garnett said. “They were hard-nosed and stayed on me every day. They taught me the importance of being a professional in this league and I’ve never forgotten that.”

As one of the league’s driving forces in the post-Jordan era, Garnett’s leadership ability can be seen in some of the league’s best, particularly LeBron James. While James may have gone to the Heat for a better chance to win a title, he lifted those guys in Cleveland the same way Garnett carried lesser players in Minnesota.

It’s really something that should be appreciated because most star players don’t have that mentality.

Garnett may not be as talented as Kobe Bryant – most people aren’t – or have as many championships as Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan. But those players, as great as they all are, can’t lead a team like Garnett.