Category: New York Knicks Blog

As promised, Woodson has been big on conditioning and running in the first few days of camp. The coach is starting to back off and said today’s session will be light. There have been no two-a-days — just one three-hour session.

It is unknown whether Wallace will scrimmage before the Washington game. The 38-year-old has been on the side doing core exercises. The Knicks are treating him like fine china following a two-year absence.

“He’s not ready yet,’’ said Woodson, who hasn’t guaranteed Wallace a roster spot. “It’s conditioning. He’s just not there where you want him to be. He’ll get there eventually. We’re doing things to get him in shape. It’s not always running up and down the floor to get in shape. Other things you can do as well.”

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Marcus Camby has picked up where he left off during his first Knicks stint.

Fears this graybeard team would be susceptible to health woes already are being realized as the Knicks announced Camby will miss seven to 10 days with a left calf strain after an MRI exam.

In addition, Amar’e Stoudemire missed practice yesterday with a sore ankle after being held out of Friday’s scrimmage. To boot, Rasheed Wallace has not been cleared to scrimmage, deemed not in good enough shape.

Camby, 38, has called the Knicks frontcourt the deepest in the NBA, and all that depth may be needed. The average age of their top 13 players is a league-record-high 32.8 years old.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

J.R. Smith always had been content to be a backup — the mercurial sixth-man gunner. Not this October. The controversial Smith made it clear he prefers to start for the first time in his career.

He has a good chance, because free-agent signee Ronnie Brewer had knee surgery in early September and won’t start practicing for two weeks. Iman Shumpert, incumbent starter at shooting guard, may not be back until January as he rehabs from ACL surgery. The shooting guard position is Smith’s for the taking. He admitted concern about being pegged as a bench player, perhaps because of a bad-boy rep.

“I’d rather start. I’ve been playing [eight] years, coming off the bench,’’ Smith said yesterday. “Whether it stays [that way] or goes, I’m going to be same person I am. I prefer to start. I’d rather be a starter. If not, I understand that.’’

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Knicks legendary broadcaster John Andariese, a team radio staple for 40 years known around the Garden as “Johnny Hoops,’’ has stepped down from his color analyst position, the Knicks announced Friday. Andariese called the Knicks’ last championship — in 1973 with Marv Albert.

Andariese will be replaced by Hubie Brown’s son, Brendan Brown. The Knicks had reduced Andariese’s role last season, having him do just home games.

The decision comes on the heels of The Post reporting Wally Szczerbiak will replace Kelly Tripucka on MSG Network’s telecasts, teaming with Alan Hahn in the studio. Last season, radio play-by-play man Spero Dedes took over for veteran Mike Crispino, who remains as a backup.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

The body is fine and the mind is still sharp. In fact, the only time Kurt Thomas feels old is when he’s wearing his Knicks uniform. After all, No. 40 just turned 40.

“I feel the same as yesterday,” Thomas says. “No difference.”

The Knicks really are aging right before our eyes. On Tuesday, Tyson Chandler celebrated his 30th birthday and on Thursday, Thomas celebrated his milestone with a three-hour practice with his teammates in Greenburgh. Thomas is the NBA’s oldest player, but he not only feels that he can contribute this season, he still believes he has a few good years left in him.

“I never think about retiring,” Thomas said. “Until no one wants my services anymore, then I’ll start thinking about that. But until then I’m always focusing on the next season.”

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Now that Rasheed Wallace is in the house, continuing the Knicks’ trend of adding players over 30, it only begs the question: Are they still looking to increase their average age?

According to a source close to free agent Josh Howard, the Knicks are still interested in the 32-year-old swingman and have had recent conversations with his representatives.

The Knicks first inquired about Howard last month, but if they’re serious about adding him now, they’ll have to cut one of their players with a non-guaranteed contract, which applies to training camp only. Currently, the Knicks have 20 training camp invites (including Wallace), which is the maximum amount allowed per team.

— Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Carmelo Anthony had some interesting things to say to ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s Dave Rothenberg about the Knicks’ offense and his approach with Amare Stoudemire this season.

Anthony reiterated that he is willing to sacrifice his scoring if it helps the team win games.

“(On) a night to night basis I want (the offense) be more well-rounded,” Anthony told Rothenberg.

Anthony says the Knicks need to “play within our means” on the offensive end.

Regarding his approach to scoring the ball, Anthony said he’ll “see how the game is going, check the flow of the game. I just want to win basketball games. If I score 10,11 points and we win basketball games, that’s my mindset right now.”

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York