Whatever happens to Brian Scalabrine after this season, he isn't pinning the outcome on anyone but himself.

Scalabrine, who turned 32 on Thursday, is playing in a contract year. He knows there is a possibility this could be his last season in Boston — or in the NBA, for that matter.

“If I can play in Boston for another year, play with this great team and this great staff and be with this organization, I’d be really excited about that,” he told WEEI.com following the Celtics' win over the Knicks on Wednesday. “If that doesn’t happen, then I would try to play somewhere else. If I can’t play in the league then I’d go overseas.”

The last time Scalabrine played was March 7, when he clocked three minutes against the Wizards. He has been inactive since then as the Celtics integrate Michael Finley into their system.

While zero minutes is not an ideal situation for any player in a contract year, he refuses to point fingers.

“I’m not really like an egomaniac or anything like that,” he said. “I look at it like, I shoulder all responsibility on me. If I’m not playing, it’s because of me. If I am playing, on that side, I always say it’s because I’ve got good people around me.

“It’s the way I work. In practice, do the best you can individually, but I think about the team and what we’re trying to do first.”

Scalabrine sacrificed for the Celtics when he secretly played with a separated shoulder for two weeks in January. The C’s already were shorthanded by injuries and he wanted to maximize his opportunity to contribute.

Scalabrine started three times during that stretch, getting the nod in place of the hampered Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace. In spite of going scoreless in his previous seven games, Scalabrine jumped into a starting role and averaged nine points in those three games -- while playing hurt. It wasn’t until the pain became unbearable that he finally underwent an MRI.

Team needs first, personal needs second.

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So it’s not surprising that when Scalabrine pondered what he missed the most by being on the inactive list, his answer was “the camaraderie.”

Scalabrine has incorporated his teammates into his game-day routines even though he hasn’t been playing in the games himself. He goes one-on-one against Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo before every game.

“Quickness,” the 6-foot-9 forward said he learns from the point guard. “Those are the kind of things you do to get better, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

He also plays in two-on-two matchups with the Celtics training staff. Then it’s back to the weight room, where he works out during the first half. This is all part of his preparation to stay in game shape should coach Doc Rivers need him back in the lineup, a valid concern on a team whose players have missed over 120 games combined.

Scalabrine inches closer to the end of his deal as the regular season winds down. But his focus remains on what his teammates are doing on the court, even if he watching them away from it.

“I’m just going to continue to work hard,” he said. “If the opportunity comes where a guy gets nicked up and I get to go out there and play, then I look forward to those opportunities.”

Scalabrine bears the responsibility to go out and get his next opportunity, no matter where it comes from.