Celtics’ Garnett itching to return after injury

WALTHAM, Mass.—The wait is almost over for Kevin Garnett.

After leading the Celtics to their 17th championship in 2008, Garnett suffered a right knee injury last year that led to surgery to remove bone spurs in late May. He could only sit and watch as Boston lost to Orlando in the second round of the playoffs.

“It wasn’t pleasant for me at all to watch,“ Garnett said Monday as the Celtics met the media before Tuesday’s official opening of training camp. “None of the basketball we played that I had to sit and watch was pleasant for me. I did it. I sat on the side because my teammates wanted me to sit on the bench, but other than that it was pretty excruciating.“

Garnett is back. He’s done all the rehab work, listened to what the medical people have told him and says he is playing without pain.

“I’m excited, man. I’m excited,“ he said.

When Garnett was able to join his teammates on the practice floor for an informal 5-on-5 game last week, he turned another corner.

“No setbacks,“ he said of his work coming back, adding he was “almost 100 percent and going forward.“

“Better than anything, I’m playing without any pain, which is something that I haven’t had for quite some time now, so I’m looking forward to it,“ he said.

Garnett said that scrimmage last week left him “huffing and puffing.“ But, he added, “It’s like riding a bike; it comes back to you.“

“I feel pretty good,“ he said. “I don’t like to take time off. But it was for good reasons. My leg is right on schedule to where it’s supposed to be and mentally I’m refreshed. I think everybody is.

“I think the fact of how we got ousted last year against Orlando is still fresh in our minds and I’m sure (coach) Doc (Rivers) is going to use that for some motivational tips this year throughout the year.  Other than that, I think everybody here is pretty much ready to go.“

Garnett is an intense competitor who has played all 82 games in four NBA seasons and 81 in three others. He missed 25 regular-season games last year before sitting out the playoffs.

He returns to a team that on paper appears to be better than the one he left. Leon Powe has departed (to Cleveland, which also signed Shaquille O’Neal) via free agency, but the Celtics made a major move by signing veteran big man Rasheed Wallace, formerly the leader of the rival Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics also re-signed free agent Glen Davis.

On Monday, as Garnett joined fellow Celtics stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to meet the media, Pierce said “it was like a breath of fresh air” when Garnett showed up last week to play in that scrimmage.

“I can’t even describe it,“ he said.

Allen noted: “The teams that beat us, the team that won the championship (the Lakers), we want that feeling back.“

Said Garnett: “I think last year did one thing for us. If anything, it humbled us. It showed team is everything, not one or two players can get things done. I’m eager to see how we come in, our minds and how we all are, in camp.“

The Celtics have their 17 championship banners hanging on the walls at their practice facility. There is an 18th banner hanging, but it’s blank.

“I don’t know where that came from. It’s just there,“ Rivers said. “That’s all I’m going to say. The players will know the meaning. Obviously, it’s an obvious meaning. ... I’ll just leave it at that.“

Rivers wouldn’t admit hanging it.

“It’s just there,“ he said. “Red (late Celtics patriarch Auerbach) did it. Blame it on Red.“