RealGM

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert knows you need to walk before you can run.

Shumpert, one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, has not started walking, but still says his recovery from a torn ACL suffered during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals is “going good.”

“They say I’m right on target with everything, I’ll be walking next week,” Shumpert told The Post. “I’m being really optimistic about it, really happy about it, hopefully it picks up soon.”

Shumpert emerged as a key contributor to a Knicks team that made the postseason for a second consecutive year, and despite being expected to miss at least a month next season, Shumpert said he’s looking forward to getting back on the floor.

“I just want to get back on the court and get back to doing the things that I did this year,” Shumpert said. “I just want to clean up my decision making, help out on the boards a little bit more and help every part of my game.”

In his rookie season Shumpert was forced to play a cramped 66-game schedule after the lockout pushed the season’s start date to Christmas Day, but was hesitant to blame the heavy workload for his knee injury.

“I don’t [attribute my injury to the short season],” Shumpert said at an event at Lord and Taylor in midtown. “I think what’s going to happen is what’s going to happen. I just go out there and play hard every night. If you get hurt, it’s just part of the game.”

The Knicks have already committed to Mike Woodson, giving him a three-year deal, and Shumpert hopes he is not the only one who returns next season.

“I think [having Coach Woodson back] is going to be great,” Shumpert said. “We’ll have a whole training camp together. I would love to have the whole team back. I like that group of guys.”

The team will be getting a hungry Shumpert as well.

“With the injuries I experienced in my rookie year I would like to have it back and have a healthy year. I always feel like I can play better,” Shumpert said.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/k ... z1xCO3tGoT

Falstaffxx wrote:I think if you're still at the stage we're you have to say "I'll be walking soon," you can't really tell how the recovery is going, at least in terms of being a top-level athlete again.

Falstaffxx wrote:I think if you're still at the stage we're you have to say "I'll be walking soon," you can't really tell how the recovery is going, at least in terms of being a top-level athlete again.

Deeeez Knicks wrote:When Shump got hurt it ripped my heart out. I hate to see things like that happen especially to someone like Shump

Jmonty580 wrote:They can be testing flexibility and before he walks he can probably stand and put a little body weight on it. There are things they can do to see that he is healing and moving along. Not only that, but they can do MRIs and xrays and stuff I'd imagine.

I wouldnt look too deep into this, other than a look at Shumperts mental state, which seems good. He's eager to get back. He's not all down and in the dumps because of the knee injury. He's focused on getting healthy and getting back on the court and helping the team. Given the situation, what more can you ask of the kid? Glad he's in a good place, and I'm glad he has a positive outlook.

“I just want to get back on the court and get back to doing the things that I did this year,” Shumpert said. “I just want to clean up my decision making, help out on the boards a little bit more and help every part of my game.”