Chauncey Billups is anxious to experience being part of the Knicks — and seeing what they can do — for a full season.
Billups, who missed the final three-plus games of the Celtics series with a strained tendon in his left knee, said yesterday he hopes the Knicks pick up his $14 million option for next season. The veteran point guard also declared his 34-year-old body is still in superb condition.
“Yeah, sure,” Billups said when asked if he wanted to be back. “I would love the opportunity to really try it up with these guys and not, like, play 30 games after a trade. Like, really have a season. Have an opportunity to really get a fair shake with these guys. I would love to.”
With their season now over, the Knicks have until Friday to determine whether to exercise the option. Billups is still an excellent point guard, in terms of production (16.8 points, 5.4 assists) as well as intelligence, experience and offense orchestration. He did, however, sustain two injuries during his brief Knicks tenure. The first was a bruised quad that cost him six games, and the second has been the strained tendon.
Still, Billups has been durable throughout his career — since 2000, he has played 70 games or more every season.
“This injury that I have right now or even the bang to the thigh, that has nothing to do with age,” he said. “They did an MRI, looked at my knees and they’re like, ‘Look like they’re 22-years-old.’ Maybe that’s because I’m not a jumper and all of that. But I have no issues. . . . I’m in great shape.”
On Saturday, team president Donnie Walsh said Billups’ injuries wouldn’t factor into whether the option’s picked up, saying: “They’re not major injuries. They’ve come at the wrong time. I’m not worried about the overall health in any area.”