NBA

Knicks not rushing Kenyon Martin into game action

Kenyon Martin did everything at Knicks practice Monday. Everything except scrimmage or get the green light to play in Thursday’s preseason game. Coach Mike Woodson said he’ll hold Martin out against the Wizards in Baltimore, a case of preserving his 35-year-old big man.

“The only thing I’m not doing is the 10-minute scrimmage. I’m doing everything else: running, jumping, 5-on-5 halfcourt. I’m doing everything else,’’ said Martin. “There’s no timetable; it’s just when they want me to play. When Woody gives me the OK, it’s OK to go play. It ain’t the doctors or nothing, it’s Woody.’’

And it was Woodson who stopped Martin short of scrimmaging Monday. He let Martin go through a regular practice, but then had him sitting off to the side icing his left ankle — the same one he injured down the stretch last season — while the Knicks scrimmaged. Until he scrimmages, he’s unlikely to play.

“He’s not ready for [playing] yet. I haven’t even gotten him into a scrimmage yet,’’ Woodson said. “He did everything up to our shell work, which is half-court defense where there’s some contact. But we did not let him scrimmage so we have to get him to that stage.’’

Woodson acknowledged he didn’t want to “burn him out right now,’’ a stance Martin completely understood — even if he admitted there’s a time he wouldn’t have.

“The more mature and older Kenyon understands what the goal is. They need me in April, May and definitely June,’’ Martin said. “They’re just limiting I guess the miles that I get day-in and day-out on the court, running up and down the court, running and jumping, just preserving ankles, knees and feet and all that. It’s cool.’’

Martin said his mental state is “at an all-time high” from having a training camp, which he didn’t have last season.

“I feel like I can start on any team in the league. But that’s not the case here. I understand that. I’m going to play my role,’’ Martin said. “Tyson can’t play 48 [minutes]. He probably wants to, but it probably wouldn’t be smart.’’

Which is what the Knicks are trying to be with Martin.


For the last big man spot, Woodson said of Cole AldrichJosh Powell and Ike Diogu: “We’ve got three bigs that are competing for that position. We’ve just got to let it play out. We’ve got four more exhibition games and a lot of practices in between, so we’ll just see how it plays out and make a decision as we go on.’’


Woodson said it wasn’t the team’s switching or doubling in the post that hurt the Knicks defense last year, but the injuries that forced them to do so. He said when they had six healthy big men who could guard one-on-one, they didn’t have to rotate or double as much, and he’d like to get back to that.