When he coached the Celtics during their New Big Three heyday, Doc Rivers was fond of saying that his stalwart starting five — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins — had never lost a playoff series together.

Such a statement might require an asterisk or at least further explanation, but for a long time it was true. The Celtics were bounced by the Magic in 2009 when Kevin Garnett was out with a knee injury, and they lost the 2010 Finals to the Lakers after Perkins’s knee gave out in Game 6. But as a quintet, that group won its first seven playoff series together when all five players were healthy, which is remarkably impressive.


Nine years removed from hanging Banner 17 together — yes, it’s been that long — it seems as if happy nostalgia is beginning to settle in for that group. There was talk of a summer reunion in Europe, and the Celtics plan to honor them next season. And Monday night on TNT, they will have another reunion of sorts, though one that further confirms that Ubuntu — the word the team used that season to describe their uncommon unity — hasn’t fully carried over into their post-Celtic careers.

During TNT’s coverage of Monday’s Warriors-Jazz playoff game at 9 p.m., Kevin Garnett — whose Area 21 segments on the broadcasts have a been a joy for NBA junkies this season — will be joined by four of his former Celtics teammates: Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and … Glen “Big Baby” Davis.

Ray Allen, who along with fellow established All-Stars Pierce and Garnett made up that New Big Three, will not participate.

This probably isn’t surprising news. While Perkins was the first of the five to leave when he was traded to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green in February 2011, the era effectively ended when Allen chose to sign with the rival Heat in July 2012.


That left damaged feelings in his wake — the Celtics reportedly offered more money — and the scars apparently remain. When plans for a reunion this summer organized by Rondo became public, it was not a total surprise that Allen was excluded.

Regarding the Area 21 gathering, the first guests Garnett had lined up were Davis and Perkins. Rondo and Pierce became available when their teams were eliminated from the playoffs and were added to the mix. They are the four teammates with whom Garnett keeps in closest touch. Garnett has not had more than three guests on Area 21 at any other time, and the network didn’t want to push past four guests this time.

It will be interesting to see whether they address Allen’s absence. Area 21 has a casual, off-the-cuff vibe in which Garnett’s charisma — and the respect his peers have for him — is always evident. The result is what feels like a candid, authentic peek at how NBA personalities interact with their guards down behind the scenes.

It should be a treat for Celtics fans, even with — or perhaps because of — one notable absence. You know these four will have some anecdotes to share.