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http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6564185Chauncey Billups to have another MRI
By Jared Zwerling
Special to ESPNNewYork.com
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It's been exactly one month and a day since Chauncey Billups strained his left knee in Game 1 of the New York Knicks' first-round series against the Celtics, but he's still not feeling 100 percent.
"I can't get on the court and really like grind, grind," said Billups, whose injury came while driving to the lane with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, and the score tied at 82. "I'm still not ready to do that, but I'm getting better though. At this point, I'm just kind of taking it easy, man."
Billups said he will be flying to New York in the next couple of weeks to have another MRI to make sure everything is healing properly. In the meantime, Mr. Big Shot is currently in Las Vegas for a few days assisting his trainer, Joe Abunassar, with working out several of the top guard prospects in the upcoming NBA draft, including Kawhi Leonard, Alec Burks, Josh Selby and Malcolm Lee.
The labor negotiations between the owners and players are the last thing on Billups' mind.
"I'm going to let this process evolve however it will, and hope for the best," he said. "I'm not thinking about the lockout and I'm not thinking about if I'm going to play overseas or any of that kind of stuff. I'm just happy to be home [in Colorado], spending time with my family and enjoying the summer."
Billups is also happy to be back with the Knicks. On April 28, the team decided not to buy out his contract and picked up his $14.2 million option for the 2011-12 season.
"I'm just excited to be coming back and hopefully our team evolves into a championship-caliber team, depending on what other moves we make," Billups said. "I feel like we took a big step this year and upgraded the talent on the team. We have to start getting the proper pieces around and everybody locking in for a great cause."
The Knicks have the 17th pick in next month's draft, and one of those point guards Billups has been mentoring could be considered as his potential backup.
Jared Zwerling is a senior researcher for ESPN The Magazine and a regular contributor to ESPN
Still a good 4 months before BBall activities resume so I'm not sweating it.. But damn I guess that injury was serious business lol.