Curry arrives fit; now he has to work out coach issue
New York Knicks' Eddy Curry speaks with the media during the Knicks' Media Day at their training facility. (Sept. 24, 2010) Credit: AP
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - For Eddy Curry, getting through the first day of training camp Saturday morning at the MSG Training Center will be the first victory of the season. The 7-foot center hasn't accomplished that in three years.
But although Curry, listed at 295 pounds, looked fit and healthy at Friday's Media Day - perhaps the best shape he's been in as a Knick - there still is some healing to be done. That would be between Curry and coach Mike D'Antoni. Although Curry said he and team president Donnie Walsh "were always on the same page" during the summer, Curry and D'Antoni clearly were not.
"I haven't talked to Coach in a while," Curry said. "I speak to him here and there, but we haven't sat down to talk."
D'Antoni wasn't pleased that Curry decided not to show up early to participate in a voluntary pre-camp. Curry said he spent the entire spring at the training center and opted to work out on his own later in the offseason. He did not go to Las Vegas to work out during the NBA Summer League because his wife, Patrice, had given birth to their fourth child.
"I let them know that I was healthy when I left here," Curry said. "I mean, everybody was on the same page when I left. It didn't get twisted until somewhere around Vegas."
Curry has appeared in only 10 games in the last two seasons, and as he starts the final year of his contract, he can ill afford to lose another season. That means he needs to develop a mutual trust with D'Antoni.
"Donnie's told me I'd be getting a fair shake so I believe him; I have no reason not to," Curry said. "So I'm going to work hard and see what happens."
Notes & quotes: Anthony Randolph said he gained 10 to 15 pounds during the offseason and is much bigger than he was when he entered the NBA as a 175-pound rookie in 2008. "I was worse than rail-thin,'' said the 6-11 forward, who is listed at 225 pounds. "I was a stick when I came into the league.'' . . . Wilson Chandler said he still is not quite 100 percent after having surgery in May to repair a sports hernia.
