Garnett has surgery

The Celtics announced today that forward Kevin Garnett underwent right knee arthroscopy and removal of posterior knee bone spurs today at the New England Baptist Hospital. The surgery was performed by team physician Brian McKeon.

“After this successful surgery, Kevin can now begin to focus on rehabilitating his knee, returning to top physical shape, and fully preparing for the 2009-10 season,” said Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. Garnett will be sidelined from basketball activity for 6-8 weeks.

The spurs in Garnett's knee were detected before the season but were not considered serious enough to warrant surgery. However, he came up limping late in the first half during a Feb. 19 game at Utah with a strained popliteus tendon in the same knee, and initially was sidelined until March 15.

After playing briefly in four games, he then was shut down by the Celtics, who were aiming to have him available for the playoffs. But the knee tendon didn't heal fast enough. A plan to ease Garnett back into the lineup during the final three games of the regular season was abandoned, and on April 16, following a workout in Waltham, he was declared out indefinitely. He did not play in the postseason.

The injury to the tendon, located deep inside the back of the knee, was unrelated to the bone spurs and will not be operated on.

Garnett appeared in 57 games this season, averaging 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.11 steals, and 1.19 blocks in 31.1 minutes.

“I expect Kevin to return to active duty in full force and be that consummate two-way professional that he has shown all of us throughout his fantastic NBA career,” coach Doc Rivers said in a press release.