Give Knicks superfan Spike Lee credit for planting the seed in Tyson Chandler’s mind last season.
Lee, who has become tight with the Knicks front office and attends periodic practices, chatted up Chandler before the Dallas game in early February last season.
“Last year he was trying to convince me to come here in free agency as if he was the general manager or owner,’’ Chandler revealed. “We were talking before the game. I said, ‘Look, Spike, right now I’m a Maverick and chasing a dream, trying to go for a title. Free agency is the furthest thing from my mind.’ He definitely was planting that seed.’’
Chandler finally heard the big roar of the new Garden yesterday as he was introduced during their open practice before a crowd of 10,500.
“I’m pretty sure he felt it,’’ Carmelo Anthony said. “I know what that feels like. That was just an open practice. I can’t imagine the first game.’’
The Knicks will play their first game at the Garden on Wednesday in their preseason finale against the Nets and officially open the transformed arena Christmas Day against the Celtics.
“I never dreamed I’d have an opportunity to be in a Knicks uniform, and to walk on the floor and hear the fans’ response makes me want to work that much harder to elevate this team where it can go,’’ Chandler said. “I’ve played for good teams but never with this type of energy.’’
* Yesterday marked the first time the Knicks took the floor at the new Garden and Anthony noticed the difference.
“The fans feel more on top of you,’’ Anthony said. “It’s a little more intimate. It was close before, don’t get me wrong, but you can feel it everywhere out on the court. … Center Jerome Jordan didn’t play against the Nets because of a groin injury.