DALLAS — Amar’e Stoudemire began a weight-training program 10 days ago in an attempt to shed 15 pounds, The Post has learned, and the results were evident last night.
The Knicks forward told The Post he has already dropped about 10 pounds in 10 days, getting down from 260 pounds to 250. Stoudemire said the goal is to get to 245 pounds
He clearly looked quicker and more explosive last night in racking up 26 points and seven rebounds, hitting 10-of 18-shots. Stoudemire was the lone starter to play with the second unit that staged a fourth-quarter comeback in the 95-85 loss.
Stoudemire came to camp bulked up and appeared slower to the rim. That prompted the medical staff to decide on a weight program to reduce bulk.
“Sometimes you have to understand what it takes to get better,’’ Stoudemire said last night. “I had an offseason where I picked up a lot of muscle. Ten pounds of muscle. Now I’m going to get back to my normal self of attacking the rim.”
Stoudemire blamed his back injury suffered during last spring’s playoff loss to Boston and the ensuing six-month rehab as putting him out of rhythm.
How did he drop the weight so quickly?
“I have a high metabolism,’’ Stoudemire said. “I changed eating habits and am doing wind sprints after practice.’’
Stoudemire was not selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in a season he was healthy since 2004. He started the weight-loss plan right after his All-Star break in the Bahamas. Stoudemire’s numbers are down — averaging 17 points compared to 25.3 points last season — and he entered last night shooting 44.5 percent.
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Steve Novak is on quite a reunion tour, facing Dallas last night, San Antonio today and then playing in his hometown Milwaukee on Friday.
Novak, who scored 13 points last night, hitting 4-of-8 3-pointers, split time between Dallas and San Antonio last season and signed with the Spurs after the lockout. The Spurs agreed to cut Novak as long as he signed with the Knicks and didn’t return to a Western Conference foe, according to a source. Last season the Mavs cut Novak in early January before his contract got guaranteed because Caron Butler got injured and they needed to fill the roster spot with a starter. They did so with over-the-hill Peja Stojakovic, and Novak lost his chance at a championship ring.
“You never want to get released,’’ Novak said. “I knew it was a special team. I said that to [Mavericks GM] Donnie [Nelson] that day, that I knew it was a special team and it was tough leaving. I knew how good they could be. That was no fun.’’
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Three former Knicks — Georgetown great Patrick Ewing, Grambling’s Willis Reed and Winston-Salem State’s Earl Monroe — have been elected into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City. They will be inducted in November.