Kevin Garnett: 'I don't have Ray Allen's [phone] number anymore'

WALTHAM - No hard feelings? Well, maybe a little. Kevin Garnett addressed a topic he knew he could not avoid atBoston Celtics media day on Friday: the departure of Ray Allen. Garnett and Allen came to Boston at the same time, and their run alongside Celtics captain Paul Pierce was nothing short of magical.

Alas, the Big Three era came to an end this past offseason, when Allen decided to take his talents to South Beach and join LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Garnett didn't publicly lash his former teammate, but he did make it known that the lines of communication are no longer open.

"I don't have Ray's number anymore," he said. "I'm not trying to communicate. ... I choose not to. That's I choice that I personally made. I'm very close to Ray, I know his family, I wish nothing but the best for him and his family."

Garnett's reaction should not come as a surprise to those who have followed him closely throughout his career. The fiery competitor that is KG is fiercely loyal, so to see his friend join the Celtics most hated enemy, it must have hurt him deeply. Nonetheless, Garnett still offered Allen his blessings.

"When a guy makes a decision based on him and his family, you can't be upset with that," Garnett said. "My personal feelings I won't put into it. The only thing I'll say is I wish Ray the best."

Is it difficult for Garnett to keep his personal feelings out of Allen's decision?

"Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely," he said.

All Garnett can do now is focus on the present and the teammates he has now.

"I'm focusing on [Jason Terry], Courtney Lee, the new guys that are here," he said.

Garnett signed a three-year deal to return to the Celtics this offseason and is coming off a prolific campaign in which he was the team's MVP down the stretch of the regular season and deep into the postseason.

Garnett will certainly be hoping to find that same magical mix once more, but he'll have to do it without his former friend Allen. Sounds like extra motivation to me, and we all know what happens when KG gets extra motivation.