New York Knicks guard Courtney Lee discusses when he thinks he could come back from injury.
Chris Iseman, Staff Writer, @chrisiseman
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Courtney Lee is closing in on a return.
The Knicks guard has been cleared to practice as he continues to make his way back from the neck and back spasms that have kept him out so far this season.
Lee said he will need "multiple practices" before getting back in a game.
"With the schedule how it is right now, we’re playing so many games and there’s not so many practices," Lee said before the Knicks' played the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum Sunday. "Definitely gotta get in practice to get my timing down, learn all the plays. I pretty much know all of them. But he changed a couple wrinkles in some. Gotta get in there and feel comfortable with the guys, grow some chemistry. Once I get that rhythm, I should be fine from there."
Lee suffered the injury when he was fouled by Ron Baker during a training camp practice. The 33-year-old missed all five preseason games before returning to practice days before the start of the season but suffered a setback.
He's been out ever since.
Lee said the pain in his neck has subsided completely, but said he may still get a spasm "here and there in my shoulders and sometimes in my neck."
"But not to the magnitude of when it was at its peak," Lee said.
Lee also needs to see how his body responds to going full-contact in practice and he still needs to get back into peak game shape.
When he does return, Lee would give the Knicks some three-point shooting. Lee shot 40.6 percent from the perimeter last season.
How coach David Fizdale finds Lee minutes remains to be seen since he has multiple shooting guards to juggle.
"Coming in, Coach said there’s no positions," Lee said. "He’s just putting guys out there to play. I’m just going to go out there practice hard, control what I can control and let him do his job."
Lee has remained an active part of the team while he's been sidelined, staying involved in practice and on the bench during games.
He's liked the style the Knicks have been playing.
"We’re playing fast," Lee said. "We’re competing. We’re getting after it. You could see the majority of the games have been close games. We’ve been right into games every fourth quarter, majority of them. I love the way they’re playing."
Email: iseman@northjersey.com
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