Amar'e Stoudemire has been cleared to participate in half-court drills but his status remains day-to-day, giving New York Knicks fans another thing to worry aside from the impending free agency of superstar Carmelo Anthony.
ESPN reports that Stoudemire has been cleared for contact by the Knicks and even joined half-court drills on Saturday, although the question on his availability for the season opener still has to be answered.
"I felt explosive. So we'll see how the progress continues," Stoudemire was quoted by ESPN as saying.
It was also reported that Stoudemire had a minor collision with rookie Tim Hardaway, Jr. but seemed to dust if off. The six-time All-Star is still waiting for the go-signal to participate in scrimmages. "The goal is to be ready to start the season. We'll see if that pans out," he said.
Stoudemire, 30, played in 29 regular season matches last year because of chronic knee problems. He had arthroscopic surgery on both knees to correct the problems. He has a long history of knee problems, most notable of which is the microfracture surgery performed on his knee in 2005. Last year, his minutes were limited to under 30 minutes.
Stoudemire was the face of the Knicks franchise after he signed with the team in 2011. But the arrival of Anthony from Denver and his constant knee problems pushed Stoudemire as the second banana in New York. Still, Stoudemire is one of the best shooting big men in the league as he has expanded his skill set to make up for the deteriorating athleticism.
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