David West, who eventually signed a two-year deal with Indiana during the abbreviated offseason, was rumored to be close to an agreement with the Celtics on Dec. 9.

Before taking the floor against the Celtics on Friday, West downplayed just how close he was to joining Boston.

“I think it was more media speculation and hype rather than an actual opportunity to come up here,” he said before adding, “I found out like everybody else, just watching TV and saw [news that he was nearing a deal with the Celtics] scroll across the screen.”

West then repeatedly expressed how well he fits in with the Pacers and the lack of facts made public about his “near” agreement with Boston.

“Everybody didn’t know all the details and what my situation was,” he said when asked if he ever thought about joining the Celtics. “I think Indiana was the place for me. There were probably a couple of hours where I thought about it and maybe it crossed my mind, but the best opportunity was to be here.”

As a testament to his assertion that he was never really close to joining Boston, West said of team president Danny Ainge: “I never spoke with him.”

West and the Pacers are still getting acclimated to one another, but the early returns have been good. Indiana entered Friday’s game at 4-2 and the two-time All-Star is averaging 11.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game.

“There was just a comfort level with the guys here,” West said of the Pacers.

“I played with Darren Collison in New Orleans and just having the opportunity to actively talk to their guys, knowing that they’d been on my radar and having a comfort level with their medical staff. Also, them being comfortable with my knee. It was just the best decision for me.”