Joakim Noah doesn’t want to hear anything about a rebuild or a move of Carmelo Anthony.
Noah has his own health issues to worry about now that he has a recurrence of a strained left hamstring that kept him out of four preseason games.
Noah, who missed Monday’s game, a 121-107 blowout loss to the Lakers, said the club can’t contemplate the notion management could make moves for the future because it is still within striking distance of the eighth seed.
“We’re not there,” Noah said. “We’re a team that we have to stay in the moment and stay focused. I know what this jersey means to everybody in this locker room.”
Noah has grown close to Anthony, and they worked out a lot over the summer with visions of a big season that is now on the precipice of falling apart. The Knicks’ starting center said Anthony isn’t looking to leave and indicated if he did go, he would be forced out by management despite his no-trade clause.
“I think Melo’s a great teammate, cares about the guys,” Noah said. “He’s definitely going through a lot with the rumors. New York is a crazy place to play basketball. I know he loves it here, and he’s staying in the moment, and we’re here for him.”
Noah injured his left hamstring in the first quarter of Saturday’s loss to Cleveland. He attempted to return in the second quarter but shut it down in the second half. He said it’s as bad as the preseason injury — which means Noah could miss the rest of the homestand.
“It’s about the same,” Noah said. “Taking it day by day. Usually it gets more sore a couple of days after then gets better.”
Lance Thomas, who hasn’t played since Jan. 15, said his headaches are subsiding and he is working out more with the goal of playing Friday against the Nuggets. Thomas will use a mask to protect his fractured orbital bone.
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