Linsanity may be over for this season.
Jeremy Lin will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a chronic torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out six weeks, the Knicks announced prior to Saturday night’s game at the Garden against Cavaliers.
Lin, at best, would be back for the second round of the playoffs, if the Knicks make it that far. Lin has been out of the lineup since Monday’s 89-80 win over the Bucks. Knicks coach Mike Woodson had said Friday that Lin may not return this season because of his knee injury. Woodson said ailing Baron Davis, suffering from a hamstring pull, would continue as the team’s starting point guard but they aren’t deep at the position. Woodson said Toney Douglas would be dusted off. The Knicks could add a PG from the D-:League.
Lin will have surgery early this week in New York. “It sucks, but when I come back I’ll be stronger than I’ll ever be,” Lin said.
According to a team spokesman, Lin made his final decision at 5:45 p.m. after meeting with the Knicks medical director Lisa Callahan. It’s unclear if the sudden heavy minutes in the lockout-condensed scheduled exacerbated the injury.
Lin tested his knee out this morning and saw his mobility was not good. He said he was unable to cut, and decided he would not be able to play through it but added he hopes to be back before the six-week timetable because he’s been a fast healer in the past..
“Our goal was to give it about five to seven days to see how it reacts and see if I can play on it the rest of the season,’’ Lin said in discussing the strategy after the MRI revealed the tear last Monday night. “I knew I had to have surgery at some point – whether it was now or after the end of the season. We did rehab all day (for a week). We did everything we could. Today was the one week mark. ‘’
On Friday in Atlanta, Lin avoided reporters on several occasions following Woodson’s ominous remark when the Knicks interim coach lumped Lin and Amar’e Stoudemire in the same boat, saying “if’’ they return this season. Stoudemire’s season is also in doubt because of a bulging disk.
“That’s why I couldn’t talk about the injury until now,’’ Lin said. “I can’t really do much. I can’t really cut or jump. It was pretty clear I couldn’t help the team unless I get it fixed right now.’’
Lin, 23, is a free agent so it is possible he’s played his last game as a Knick. But Lin isn’t ruling out playing again this spring. “It’s a six-week rehab process,’’ Lin said. “I can heal fast. I can come back as soon as possible and contribute this season hopefully.’’
The Knicks may need to use their full $5M mid-level exception to re-sign him and that would torpedo their chance at Steve Nash. Lin said his first choice is re-signing. He may not have a choice since the Knicks can match another team’s offer and teams can’t outbid the Knicks because he falls into under the Gilbert Arenas Rule.
“It’s disappointing for me,’’ Lin said. “It’s hard to watch the games. I want to be out there more than anything right now to help the team.’’
“We’ve got to go on, but he’s a big piece of our puzzle and what we’ve been doing as of late,” Woodson said. “All is not bad — we have three veteran point guards sitting over there, but we’ve just got to make do until he’s able to get back in uniform.”
“But it is a big blow. He was starting to come as a player and it’s not a career-ending injury. Plenty of people play with meniscus problems. He’ll bounce back. We will anxiously await for him to get better.”
marc.berman@nypost.com