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Allan Houston decided to end his retirement and resume playing for the troubled New York Knicks after two years away from the National Basketball Association.
He was forced to retire in October 2005 after constant knee pains stopped him from playing. Houston said that he had been training hard in order to make his come-back in the Knicks team a success.
"After much thought and prayer, I have decided to return to the NBA as a member of the New York Knicks," he was quoted saying on the team's website.
"I have worked extremely hard in the last year and a half to accomplish my dream of playing in the NBA again," Houston added.
The former and current Knicks guard spent the entire summer training with several future team mates at the MSG Training Center. When asked about Houston’s game and how’s the 36-year-old looking on the court, Jamal Crawford said: "Didn't miss a shot."
However, Houston’s comeback is still a doubt considering the fact that Coach Isiah Thomas already increased his 15-man roster with veterans and Knicks’ first-round pick, Wilson Chandler. With four other rookies in camp, including former Syracuse standout Demetris Nichols, the competition for a spot in the team gets really interesting.
When asked about whether Houston will have to compete for his spot on the roster, Isaiah Thomas replied swiftly: "Most definitely".
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.
"I have seen the Garden in some of its best moments, and I truly believe that this team is on the verge of experiencing that again," Houston statement.
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.
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