A preseason game and about a week of practice was all Allan Houston needed to reach the conclusion that his comeback bid with the New York Knicks wasn’t going to work out as planned.

On Sunday, Houston made it official that he won’t continue his efforts to earn a place in the team. He motivated his decision by saying that he does not have enough time to prepare himself physically for an NBA campaign. For New York, the regular season is set to begin on November 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He was forced to retire in October 2005 after constant knee pains stopped him from playing. After a two-season break, the 36-year-old guard, a two-time NBA All-Star said that he had been training hard in order to make his come-back in the Knicks team a success.

"After much consideration, I have decided to end my comeback with the Knicks," Houston said. "While my body and my knees, in particular, feel fine, I know what is required for me to be truly effective in the NBA again.

"It involves a timing and progression that would not be fair to the Knicks right now. With the season opening less than two weeks away, I think it is best for the team to move on without me.

"I appreciate the opportunity. I wish the team nothing but success."

Houston chose the Knicks although he could have attempted his comeback at six other teams, including the New Jersey Nets. But the veteran preferred to play closer to home especially after his fourth child was recently born. Houston lives in Greenwich, Conn.

Allan Houston was the Knicks’ captain for six seasons and is the team's fourth leading all-time scorer in regular season with 11,165 points. He is also well-known for the six-year, $100-million contract extension that Garden chairman James Dolan gave him in 2001.