Iman Shumpert got a little worried at the sound of the diagnosis from Knicks medical director Lisa Callahan that he had sprained a ligament in his right elbow. But the reality is he still may not miss any preseason games.
Shumpert sat out Friday’s practice with swelling after injuring his elbow Thursday in Baltimore, but said he still isn’t sure what his status will be when the Knicks hold an open scrimmage at Columbia on Sunday or when they resume their preseason schedule Monday in Toronto.
Shumpert couldn’t fit his arm through the sleeve of his Knicks shirt because he had his elbow wrapped in an ice baggie.
“It looks worse than it is,’’ Shumpert said. “I just want to be healthy for the first game. If I can’t go Monday, I can’t go Monday.’’
Knicks coach Mike Woodson said he thinks Shumpert should be ready for Toronto.
“Doc said she expected more fluid,’’ said Shumpert, who is expected to be the starting shooting guard on opening night, but will be in a battle for the job when J.R. Smith returns. “I heal better than anyone else. The thing scary to me is they said it was something ‘CL’ Anything with a ‘CL scares me because of my ACL [tear].’’
Shumpert was beset by a sore shoulder early in training camp, but said it healed.