Iman Shumpert never got to play craps in Las Vegas or display his skills in the annual summer league at UNLV.
The ongoing NBA lockout cost the Knicks burly point guard that chance last week, but he does not regard his upcoming rookie year as a roll of the dice.
The engaging Shumpert is doing his best to cope with a rough situation. In an interview with The Post yesterday from Atlanta, Shumpert, selected No. 17th in the June 23 draft, said he has been working out every day at his alma mater, Georgia Tech, and has a solid sparring partner in former Yellow Jacket point guard Jarrett Jack.
“I’m just trying to stay positive, working on developing my game the best I can, play against the best competition I can,” Shumpert told The Post. “And when the lockout is over, I’ll be ready.”
In early August, Shumpert said he is heading to Los Angeles, where a group of Knicks are planning to work out together. Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Landry Fields, Jared Jeffries and Chauncey Billups, among others, are planning on getting together there.
“The summer league was definitely something I was really looking forward to,” Shumpert said. “But the timing of the lockout, you just try to work out and play against good competition.”
Jack, a certifiable Knick-killer now playing for Chris Paul’s New Orleans Hornets, has been a huge help. Both players are banned from their respective NBA practice facilities but have been greeted with open arms by Georgia Tech officials.
Shumpert’s defensive prowess has been well-touted. His deep shooting is the weakness that concerned NBA scouts after his sophomore year in which he shot 37 percent from 3-point range.
“We’re doing a lot of shooting,” Shumpert said. “(Jack) loves to do every shooting drill.”
The Knicks are not permitted to track Shumpert’s progress. Interim president Glen Grunwald, coach Mike D’Antoni and the members of his staff can’t even speak to Shumpert or his agent, Happy Walters, during the lockout. Even the Knicks public relations employees cannot reach out to Shumpert.
“It’s tough definitely,” Shumpert said. “Not being able to call the coaches to get insights. Even to get updates from them on the lockout. It’s something you have to deal with.”
It is why after the draft, Shumpert spent the rest of the week leading to the July 1 lockout at the Knicks training facility, working with the coaches with whom he said he feels a special connection. Now Jack is the main guy in his ear.
“He chimes in to help me,” Shumpert said. “He tells me it’s about my body getting used to the NBA life. Once you make adjustments, get used to the little things, you’ll be fine.”
Shumpert doesn’t want to even think about starting his pro basketball career in Europe but will get serious about it if it looks like the NBA season could be in serious jeopardy. Walters told The Post he does not want to see Shumpert waste an entire season and at the appropriate time would look into scenarios in which his client could play in Europe.
“I would rather be here,” Shumpert said. “I definitely follow the advice of my agent. He wants me to keep working hard and be ready for when the lockout ends.”
Shumpert will wear “21” with the Knicks — though it was his third choice. He wore “1” at Georgia Tech — Stoudemire’s number. “Obviously I wasn’t going to ask him,” Shumpert said.
Shumpert then asked for “32” but was told he couldn’t wear that either. Renaldo Balkman, a throw-in as part of the Anthony trade, wears “32”. Even though Shumpert could play a major role, especially if Billups’ knees don’t hold up, he still has to earn his rookie stripes.
Shumpert was forced into asking for “21” — his number in the 8th grade. It was also the number worn by Charlie Ward, a pretty good defender in his own right. The beauty of Shumpert is the Knicks think he can lock down opposing point and shooting guards with his size and bulk.
“My high school team [in Oak Park, Ill.] was defensive minded and ever since then it’s been a part of me,” Shumpert said. “I’m hoping the fans love it. I got a lot of positive feelings from the fans. They are diehards.”