Nate Robinson was in no mood to discuss trade rumors out of Boston, no interest in talking about anything other than the Knicks’ game tomorrow night against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
Perhaps that’s a sign of the maturity that has him playing some of the best basketball of his career, and playing his way into the good graces — and rotation — of coach Mike D’Antoni.
Team president Donnie Walsh continues to insist he never received a trade demand from Robinson’s camp, and never has shopped the volatile guard who, according to one Internet report out of Boston, has drawn interest from the Celtics.
“I’m not commenting on rumors, and that’s what they are,” Walsh said yesterday. “I’m marking them down to see the percentages. Like the guys who pick horses, what’s their percentage? There’s a new one every day.
“I think Nate’s really trying to do the right thing on the floor,” Walsh said. “It’s obvious he’s helping us. When he gets it going, he really helps us. He’s cut down on some of the things that detract from that, so I like the way he’s playing . . . I think a guy, when he adjusts his game to the team, it does change your view of him.”
The Celtics, according to an Internet report, had made an offer for Robinson, but the report did not say what it was.
Another report claimed the Celtics are “very high” on Robinson and could include guard Tony Allen in a trade to help the Knicks get more cap space for their summer pursuit of LeBron James.
Other sources said nothing is brewing, and Boston coach Doc Rivers told the Boston Herald he has no knowledge of any discussions.
“I just want to talk about Friday [and the Lakers],” said Robinson. “If you want to talk about Friday, we can do that. Anything else, I have nothing to say.”
With 14 straight DNPs, Robinson had become persona non grata after Dec. 1, but he has played every Knicks game since Jan. 1.
Aaron Goodwin, Robinson’s agent, told The Post he hadn’t heard about any trade and told the Boston Herald, “If anyone would know, I think it would be me.”
Goodwin added he never wanted his client out of New York, just out of D’Antoni’s doghouse.
“Actually, I wanted Nate off the bench. But they’ve rectified that point. Any other moves, it’s on them,” Goodwin said. “According to the NBA, I [demanded a trade]. My point was to get him off the bench, which he is — off the bench and into the game. If something changes, we’ll deal with it.”
When Robinson was benched he was a minus-3, according to the Elias Sports Bureau and the Knicks were just 3-9. Since his return to the rotation, he’s been a plus-16 and his team is 5-4.
As long as he’s playing,” said Goodwin, “everybody in Nate’s camp is content.”
So are the Knicks.
Yesterday was “recovery day” for Al Harrington, David Lee and Jared Jeffries, all of whom sat out practice . . . Ex-Nets coach Lawrence Frank sat with Walsh yesterday at practice.