D’Antoni Can’t Wait for Jorts to Return

NEW YORK — Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is missing Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.

But he’s also hoping Jorts returns soon, too.

“I had no idea I’d be sitting here saying I can’t wait till Josh Harrellson gets back,” D’Antoni said Friday night at MSG before the Knicks host Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

The 6-foot-10 Harrellson remains out approximately another three weeks after fracturing his right wrist Jan. 21 against the Nuggets.

A pleasant surprise with his work ethic, hustle and 3-point shooting ability, he is averaging 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds on the season.

D’Antoni reiterated that Stoudemire would return to practice Monday after mourning the death of his brother, Hazell, in a car accident last Monday.

Anthony is “getting closer” to returning from a right groin injury sustained this past Monday against the Jazz, D’Antoni said. He was originally diagnosed as being out 1-2 weeks.

Written by Adam Zagoria

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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.