Locked-out Knicks rookie point guard Iman Shumpert is writing a periodic diary for The Post, detailing his offbeat transition to the NBA due to the work stoppage.
Been a slow week, working out in Chicago twice a day, waiting for the end of the lockout. So I’m turning the diary over to a special Q-and-A to answer the most-asked questions from fans and some submitted by the Post’s Knicks beat writer Marc Berman:
Q: What is the situation with your Knicks jersey number?
A: The week before the lockout, I worked out in New York and I was going to go with No. 21. I was in a rush to find a number before the lockout. I wore No. 1 at Georgia Tech, but Amar’e Stoudemire has that. I picked 21 because my mother’s birthday is Aug. 21, and I’m a combo guard, playing the 2 and 1. I may change my number when this lockout ends. I have a number in mind — maybe 11 — but we’ll see what happens. When I think No. 11, I think of 1-on-1, you have to stand as your own man.
Q: What do you see as your role this season and how good can the Knicks be?
A: I just see myself as an all-purpose player where I will be up for anything and make sure I produce. I think we can go far as anybody if everyone is working hard. We all want to win every night and take the Knicks past that first round. Everyone is focused on going deep in the playoffs and gunning for a championship. I know that’s what I’ve been dreaming of since I was a little kid.
Q: Whom are you most looking forward to playing against?
A: I have been a Bulls fan my whole life. Growing up in the Chicago area, I naturally want to play against Derrick Rose. I was younger than him and our high school [Oak Park River Forest] got knocked out of the state tournament in the semifinals right before we would have played his school [Simeon]. Now I’ll finally get to play him. He’s the MVP. I’ll be a rookie coming in, going against my hometown Chicago, playing for one of the Bulls’ rivals with all that history. That’s the game I’ll be most excited about.
Q: Michael Jordan was your idol. What do you make of him being on the other side of the labor dispute as a hard-line owner?
A: They want a good deal. We want a good deal. I think everyone wants to see us get back on the court, so I am hopeful this gets resolved soon.
Q: What do you make of David Stern’s ultimatum for tomorrow on the league’s offer and talk of the players’ union decertifying?
A: Everyone knows that decertification is a complex situation. I really want to talk it over with my agent [Happy Walters] and talk to older guys to get a better understanding of it before I announce my judgment on anything.
Q: What are the chances of the season being cancelled?
A: I don’t know, I haven’t been in the room. I remain hopeful.
Q: What is your favorite drill?
A: I don’t have specifically a favorite drill. I have drills I make sure I do every day: the drop-step dunk, make sure I get in all my areas from the 3-point line. I do know that all my drills make me tired and make me better.
Q: What do you like about New York City?
A: I really like the people of New York. They have been great to me. I’m really into fashion, and in New York, you’re always going to see something new. I like seeing people with different styles walking down the same street.
Q: You are getting tons of hits on YouTube and WhoSay for your basketball videos. Your music is part of the video — when did you start recording?
A: I’ve been doing that stuff since high school. What we’ve been doing is everything is on an original beat and we’re straying from using other people’s instrumentals so we can copyright the music. I don’t see myself as a basketball player who wants to rap. I was rapping before anyone knew I could play in the NBA. I take the music the same way I take my basketball — seriously. In high school, I was in a spoken word club, and it helped me to be better in music. The teacher, Mr. Kahn, was great at getting us to make something positive with our words as well as address issues and problems.
Iman Shumpert’s Twitter handle is @I_Am_Iman