CHICAGO – One season ago, Eddy Curry emerged as a potential All-Star, with Isiah Thomas labeling him a franchise center to build around.
Last night, Curry’s career hit rock bottom in a scoreless outing, in his hometown, against his former team, with Thomas piling on.
Back in his own hometown, Thomas sounded like he’d like to give his center back to the Bulls. And that was before the game, when Thomas made his most damning remarks ever about Curry.
After last night’s performance, in which Curry didn’t score in 14 minutes, had his shot blocked three times in going 0-for-5, the Bulls can have their homegrown product back for a Polish sausage and deep-dish pizza to be named later.
Curry was benched last night for the final 20:18 despite not being in late foul trouble.
The crash of Curry and Thomas’ Knicks continued at United Center in a 101-96 loss, extending the team’s losing streak to five and worsening their record to 6-16 – already double digits below .500 in mid-December. Despicable.
Thomas confessed that Curry may never evolve into a dominant center he once envisioned because he doubts he’ll become an adequate defender. Thomas admitted the Knicks must change their defense strategically – and play more zone – to make up for Curry’s shortcomings.
The admission reflects horribly on Thomas’ job status, since one of the chief reasons owner James Dolan gave him a contract extension was Curry’s growth as a near All-Star last season. It was one week ago The Post reported Dolan telling Thomas in a meeting that Thomas’ job was safe.
Curry made Thomas’ pregame words stand up as the committed two fouls in the first 2:46, forcing him to the bench. When he returned in the second quarter, Curry had two dunk attempts blocked by 6-7 Andres Nocioni in the second quarter – “SportsCenter” stuff.
Curry also had a turnaround blocked by Luol Deng.
Asked if the benching humiliated Curry in his hometown, Thomas snapped, “We’re trying to win basketball games. It’s my hometown, too.”
For bolting two years ago as a free agent, Curry was booed loudly during intros, as was Thomas. Curry got yanked 8:18 left in the third quarter for third-string point guard Mardy Collins and never returned.
“I didn’t have a rhythm out there,” Curry said. “I think it’s mental at this point. Any time I don’t have a good game, I feel I let the team down.”
Before the game, Thomas said, “There are certain things he’ll probably never be good at doing. He may not ever be a great defender or great rebounder. He’s young enough, but he’s not there now. Right now we’ll find somebody else to do the things he can’t do. And the things he can do, we’ll make sure he does well.”
Curry may not have heard those words from Thomas himself. “He knows if he has anything to get across to me, he can come tell me, he sees me every day,” Curry said.
The Knicks ultimately gave up two lottery picks for Curry, whom Thomas said will start tonight against the Nets. Curry said he would be “very disappointed” if he got taken out of the starting lineup.
One of the Bulls’ lottery picks, Tyrus Thomas, was suspended last night for an oncourt altercation and had been a disappointment. The other, Joakim Noah, smashed the Knicks in the first half with 10 points, including a vicious putback dunk in the second quarter.
Deng, who did not play in the Knicks’ victory last month, had 29 points and 10 rebounds. Zach Randolph answered with 27 points and sank a 3-pointer with 25.6 seconds left to cut a fourth-quarter, double-digit deficit to 3 points at 95-92.
But the Knicks’ loss was cinched when Fred Jones blew a layup with nine seconds left.