Knicks' Andrea Bargnani has MRI on hamstring, is unsure of return date
New York Knicks forward/center Andrea Bargnani said Wednesday he's unsure when he'll return from his strained right hamstring, according to the New York Post.
Bargnani injured his hamstring in practice Oct. 9 and hasn't played in any of the team's preseason games since. He told Italian reporters that he underwent an MRI on Tuesday but didn't say what the test revealed.
The Knicks haven't given a timeline for Bargnani's return, but he won't play in Friday's preseason finale against the Toronto Raptors, his former team, and seems unlikely to be ready by New York's season opener Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls.
“We’re working every day to get it ready to go on the court,’’ Bargnani said.
The injury hurts doubly because the club is learning the triangle offense.
“Obviously keep up with the team by watching a lot of video doing as much as possible not to get behind,’’ Bargnani said.
• JENKINS: LeBron takes team-building talents to Cleveland
Bargnani had eight points and five rebounds in the Knicks' preseason opener against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 8, after which head coach Derek Fishersaid Bargnani could be a "matchup problem."
The game against the Celtics was Bargnani's first since he sustained a season-ending elbow injury last January, prior to which he was averaging 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per game. For his career, Bargnani has averaged 15 points and 4.9 rebounds in eight seasons.
The 2006 No. 1 pick was acquired by the Knicks before last season in a trade with the Toronto Raptors, with New York sending Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and Quentin Richardson in exchange.
The Knicks went 37-45 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10.
• MANNIX: Why NBA draft lottery reform is a terrible idea
- Ben Estes
