Not only is Bronx-born point guard Kemba Walker super happy to come home and become a Knick, but he’s also “super’’ healthy.
Or so the four-time All-Star said at his introductory press conference on the Garden floor Tuesday.
“I feel great,’’ said Walker, who missed time last season due to an injured left knee. “My knee feels great. Honestly I haven’t been playing as much since the regular season. I feel really good. I haven’t had this much time off in a little while, in a few years, to be honest.
“It feels good to have this rest and time to get my knee right. I intend to come in feeling super good and continue to feel super good.’’
It was a festive atmosphere at the Garden, as Walker joined the stage with new signee Evan Fournier, whom the Knicks obtained in a sign-and-trade. The two played in Boston last season, but Walker is from New York – a little closer than Fournier’s homeland of France.
Walker became emotional at one point as he talked about seeing the side of the Garden’s façade adorned with a mammoth picture of his face and Fournier’s. His mother, Andrea, and sister were in attendance. So was rapper Fat Joe, who is also a Bronx native.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,’’ Walker said. “It’s a great feeling. Just growing up here, walking around the city and seeing those guys’ faces on the billboards who played for the Knicks, and I’m going to play in New York. Now to see myself up there, with Evan who I’ve known for a minute now, man, it’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m grateful.”
Walker was held to 43 games last season, dealing with an arthritic left knee that required stem-cell injections. He broke down in the playoffs, too, missing the final two games against the Nets.
The 31-year-old wants to reverse the narrative that he’s damaged goods.
“It means everything,’’ Walker said. “It’s driving everything. Because I know what kind of player I am. I know what level I want to be at. It’s added motivation.’’
Walker claims the knee wasn’t that much a hindrance but he didn’t play back-to-backs.
”Not much,’’ Walker said. “Last season, not much, to be honest. Not my knee. I was feeling pretty good. I just had a little hiccup in the playoffs, which sucked, obviously, nobody likes to be injured, especially in that moment. But I felt pretty good all year.’’
Asked if he will have to skip back-to-back sets again, Walker laughed and pointed to the front row. “You got to ask him. Ask Thibs.’’
The Knicks coach responded, “He’s playing,” to laughter.
Thibodeau, president Leon Rose and GM Scott Perry sat in the front row. They didn’t talk to the press because all their signings have not become official. Rose hasn’t talked to the press in over a year.
The Knicks finished 41-31 — fourth seed in the East — before getting blasted in the first round in five games to the Hawks, whom they will face on Christmas this season. Can the Knicks be better with Walker and Fournier as the upgrades?
“We’re going to be really good,’’ Walker said. “My ability to get in the lane, hopefully I can draw multiple defenders and get rid of the basketball. Trusting my teammates, I know this guy right here (Fournier) is going to light it up.
“For sure he’s going to shoot the crap out of the ball. We got a bunch of young guys. We just drafted some really, really good players. I was really impressed watching Summer League and some of the other guys who have been here. Me and Evan plan on coming here, bringing some leadership and adding on to what they have.’’
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