It’s difficult to remain optimistic about the Knicks’ fortunes — unless you are rookie Tim Hardaway Jr., who gets a respite from the bad karma infecting the Garden as he competes this weekend at the All-Star festivities.
Hardaway will play in Friday’s rookie-sophomore Rising Stars Challenge and then in an offbeat selection by the NBA, he will unite with his father as teammates in Saturday’s Shooting Stars competition.
On an individual level, it’s all gone well for the 2013 No. 24 pick out of Michigan. No wonder he stayed upbeat as he left New York for the weekend madness of The Big Easy.
“[I’m] not disappointed at all,’’ Hardaway said. “We got another half of a season after the All-Star break, and we should be able to turn it around.’’
Hardaway is shooting an impressive 38.5 percent from 3-point land and has out-played Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith for a good stretch of the season by showing the poise of a veteran. He’s a virtual untouchable at the trade deadline.
Friday night he will play for Team Webber and be on the same side as his former Michigan point guard Trey Burke, Michael Carter-Williams and Nets big man Mason Plumlee.
“It will take my mind off [Knicks] basketball a little, spend time with family refresh everything,’’ Hardaway said.
Hardaway Jr. said he hopes his father, a former star point guard for the Warriors and Heat, does himself proud in the shooting competition Saturday.
“I’m not worried about him,’’ Hardaway said. “I’m more worried about how to get wins right now [with the Knicks.’’
Shumpert hurt his hip flexor in Thursday’s 106-101 overtime loss to the Kings Wednesday night.
He didn’t play second half and the club hasn’t set timetable for his return.
Another trend festered in the loss when Jimmer Fredette, the Glens Falls, N.Y., product, notched a career-high 24 points.
The former Brigham Young sharpshooter became the fifth player to set his career high against the Knicks this season. The others were Marco Belinelli,Brandon Knight, Evan Turner and Lance Stephenson.
Carmelo Anthony, Hardaway and Knicks executive John Starks will spend four hours Friday helping build a playground in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward.