On the night the Knicks faced the Russian-owned Nets, coach Mike D’Antoni ramped up the local rivalry, saying Russian rookie Timofey Mozgov likely will be their opening-night starting center and tweaked Newark’s team for not being involved in the bidding.
Billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov was not in the Garden for last night’s Amar’e Stoudemire-dominated 117-111 Knicks preseason victory. Stoudemire, who finally played the fourth quarter, racked up 39 points and 11 rebounds — an NBA preseason high. Stoudemire played 37 minutes but will not play the second night of the back-to-back tonight in Philadelphia. Stoudemire leads the NBA in preseason scoring, averaging 26 points per game.
Prokhorov not only has to regret not signing Stoudemire in July, but even vying for the services of “Mozgov on the Hudson” whom the Knicks signed in a mid-July coup.
D’Antoni said he was surprised — and a bit concerned — Prokhorov wasn’t beating down Mozgov’s door in St. Petersburg.
“That worried us because they weren’t involved,” he said. “We were like, what are we missing because they should know that? We’re scared to death we’re not seeing something. For whatever reason, they didn’t go after him. We were lucky to get him.”
In July, Prokhorov said, “We never considered letting him on the roster. But I was very happy the second Russian player has come to the league.”
Mozgov made his fourth straight start last night and had a nondescript four-point, three-rebound outing in 19 minutes.
Mozgov has never met Prokhorov and confirmed the Nets never spoke to him.
“I know he has money,” Mozgov said. “He’s very smart. He’s a real good guy. Maybe he didn’t want me or know me. I don’t worry about it because he’s not my enemy.”
Knicks team president Donnie Walsh said he believes other teams eyed Mozgov for the summer of 2011, figuring he would sign with an NBA when his Russian-team buyout was less severe. But the Knicks poured money into Mozgov, giving him a three-year, $9.7 million deal to help him with the buyout.
Walsh was highly secretive in courting Mozgov.
“I was afraid because other teams were interested but most were thinking of signing him the following year,” Walsh said.
Other than Stoudemire, Mozgov has been the Knicks’ brightest light of an otherwise average preseason. Last week, Mozgov finally visited Brighton Beach with his Russian girlfriend to eat and go shopping for furniture for his place in White Plains. He said he loved it, as all the merchants spoke Russian.
His English is gradually improving. Now he’s got to rebound more and foul less — the lone blemishes on his game. Mozgov is averaging 8.5 points on 64 percent shooting in 18 minutes. He also has committed 21 fouls 92 minutes.
“It’s a little bit on everybody, but he’ll learn to box out and go get the ball,” D’Antoni said. “He’ll do that. He’s too athletic.”
Asked about rebounding, Mozgov said, “Of course I need more rebounds.”
D’Antoni has spent the preseason trying not to gush about the undrafted 24-year-old Mozgov.
“We hoped [he could start],” D’Antoni said. “We were afraid to say it. Not starting for team in Russia averaging 4, 5 points, it’s hard to imagine him starting for an NBA team trying to make the playoffs.”