Iman Shumpert heard a pop in his surgically repaired left knee Wednesday. Yesterday, he heard something far more soothing.
A go-ahead to play tonight in Toronto.
After a re-evaluation, the Knicks said Shumpert was fine and he is expected to face the Raptors in the front end of a back-to-back set with Toronto. Shumpert said after Wednesday’s game when he sat out the second half as a precaution that both he and the medical staff were not worried. Frightened, yes — he heard a pop don’t forget. Worried, no.
“When I was sitting on the bench it felt fine. I think it was just scar tissue and it popped and it was more of a scare than anything,” Shumpert said. “I hadn’t felt it pop and I didn’t like that feeling too much but I’m fine.”
Because of the Knicks’ recent medical news, any information not measured in weeks, months or decades to be missed is encouraging. So despite indications there was no problem, the confirmation Shumpert is expected in the Knicks’ quest for a third straight victory was encouraging. The Raptors, though, have beaten the Knicks in two previous meetings.
* They were teammates in Denver and were reunited with the Knicks. Friends and teammates. Not fashion buddies, Kenyon Martin said laughing. So no, he did not consult with Carmelo Anthony on uniform and wardrobe appearance Wednesday, even if both wore headbands and arm sleeves.
“We’ve been wearing headbands for years. I’ve been wearing one sleeve. I kind of fell on my elbow in the Golden State game so I had to wear that sleeve. It wasn’t because of fashion. Trust me,” Martin said. “I love him as a teammate but I’m not going to dress like him.”
Orlando’s Jacque Vaughn is 38 and coaching in the NBA. The Knicks Jason Kidd is 39 — 40 tomorrow — and still playing.
“Jacque does a great job. I played with Jacque,” Kidd said of two seasons they were together on the Nets. “I don’t look at age. I’m happy to see what he’s doing with his team. They play hard. They’re a young team and I think he’s done a great job.”
Said Vaughn of his former teammate hitting 40 and playing point: “You’ve got to marvel at it. It’s unique. It’s special.”