Five highlights from Celtics center Kevin Garnett‘s interview at the team’s media day in Waltham:

On returning to Boston: “My No. 1 reason for coming back, obviously, was [Celtics coach] Doc [Rivers]. Doc being here is huge. I enjoy playing for him. The guys, the city, the fans here are by far the best fans that I’ve ever been a part of, and all that stuck with me — along with some family motivation and other things of that nature. … You want to be in a position where you can still contribute and still give something. I don’t know how [Celtics president] Danny [Ainge] talked me into three years. I’m enjoying my journey here. I know it sounds lame and kind of cheesy, but coming in here, preparing, doing what I love, all those put together is why I’m here.”

On Rajon Rondo’s leadership: “I think you see a bit of the changing of the guard with Rondo becoming our leader. It’s something that he’s heard. He and P [Paul Pierce] obviously are our captains, and I think he wants to be that. Like anything, man, when you’re a young player in this league, you want to establish yourself. I think he’s a leader, but he just didn’t know how to. I think the Big Three that was here was able to teach him parts of it. Obviously, he’s going to lead the way he feels, and he’s going to do what’s best for the group, the team, the guys.”

On Ray Allen’s departure: “I don’t have Ray’s number anymore. I’m not trying to communicate with him. I’m just being honest with everybody in here. It’s not that I wish him less than or whatever, it’s just what it is. I choose not to [communicate with him]. That’s a choice I personally made. I’m very close to Ray, I know his family, I wish nothing but the best for him and his family, I just made the choice to move on. That’s all. I’m focusing on J.T. [Jason Terry], Courtney Lee, the new guys that are here. … I wasn’t going to come here and answer a bunch of Ray Allen questions. I was going to obviously answer one time, and then focus on what’s right here in this gym and what’s present. That’s where I’m at.”

On team bonding trips: “I’m thinking about [2007 Celtics training camp in] Rome. There are a lot of parallels here to obviously ’07-08 with the depth of the team. I see a lot of parallels from ’07-08 vs. this year, so I’m just wondering if we can bond and come together and give each other to each other for the betterment of this whole goal. Obviously, it worked then, and we’ll see if it works now.”

On revenge against Miami: “It’s not just the Heat, but everybody. The goal here is to win it, man, and whoever is in the way of that is in the way. It’s just not Miami. It’s just not whoever. It’s the whole league. Obviously, they won it. They’re the champions. They’re the defending champions. I respect that. But along that road to the goal, whoever is in your way is in your way. It’s not just one particular team.”