Kevin Garnett gave Ray Allen the silent treatment after his move from Boston to Miami: "I don't have Ray's number anymore"

Kevin Garnett gave Ray Allen the silent treatment after his move from Boston to Miami: “I don’t have Ray’s number anymore” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

If you’d checked Kevin Garnett‘s phone before and after July 11, 2012, one thing would’ve stood out: the entry — once tied to Ray Allen — was suddenly gone.

The reason you might ask? The Big Ticket himself addressed it after a Boston Celtics practice — one his former teammate, now with the Miami Heat, unsurprisingly didn’t attend.

“I don’t have Ray’s number anymore,” remarked Garnett per ESPN. “I’m not trying to communicate. I’m just being honest with everybody in here…It’s just what it is.”

Allen’s move to South Beach

In the NBA, the bond between teammates runs deep — often called a brotherhood forged through shared battles and standing together through both highs and lows. But what happens to that strong bond when trust is — allegedly — broken?

Garnett spent over two decades in the league, so he knows that feeling firsthand. While it’s always tough, it’s safe to say one moment stands out. It came when Allen, after five seasons as his Celtics teammate, said goodbye. It wasn’t just any goodbye, though.

Reports say one of the greatest shooters ever had actually promised to stay in Massachusetts. But after financial disagreements with the Celtics’ front office, he signed a two-year, $6 million deal to move to South Beach.

The end of Boston’s Big Three

Considering Allen was nearing his late 30s and the star-studded Heat were reigning champions — soon to win another title — many saw his move as smart.

KG, however, saw things differently. Although trying to understand the complexity of such late-career moves, the frustration was clear. To cope, the one-time MVP decided to cut all contact with the guard he’d won the 2008 NBA Finals alongside.

Garnett later described the radio silence as a personal choice, emphasizing his close bond with Allen and his family but standing firm on his decision.

What likely frustrated the big man icon wasn’t Ray leaving, but where he went — the Heat. The same team had dismantled the C’s in the previous Eastern Conference Finals.

Needless to say, Miami’s controversial strategy of assembling talent to create a superteam for a quick title run — rather than building sustained greatness — made Allen’s move all the more criticized.

Meanwhile, Paul Pierce said he had thought Boston’s Big Three would finish their storied careers together, hence calling Allen’s decision very surprising to him.

Still, the 2008 Finals MVP acknowledged his teammate was a grown man who had to do what was best for his family. Ultimately, Paul wished Ray the best but said the former UConn Husky should have chosen the Los Angeles Clippers instead of “our Eastern Conference rivals.”

Ultimately, only one man could fully explain the circumstances behind the controversial move — Allen himself. So, what did the 10-time All-Star have to say?

For starters, he called Garnett’s decision to cut contact a “shame,” then added some humor to lighten the mood, saying he felt that way because he’s usually “a good person to talk to on the phone.”

Regarding accusations of betrayal, Ray remained equally unfazed. Having been through “weird trade situations” with the Celtics, the California native said he often felt “one foot in and one foot out,” so he simply can’t dwell on it.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.

Kevin Garnett gave Ray Allen the silent treatment after his move from Boston to Miami: “I don’t have Ray’s number anymore”

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