Allan Houston...making a comeback
Former Knicks guard Allan Houston said today he is planning a comeback to the NBA. Houston, one of the best outside shooters in Knicks history (1996-2005), was on hand as a guest speaker/coach at the 17th annual Gatorade Knicks Summer Basketball Camp held at Hunter College. After talking to 150 campers, ages 8-18, and teaching them about defensive positioning* and the importance of character on and off the court, Houston shared his thoughts on a return to the NBA.
"I am going to try and come back this year," Houston said, adding that his agent has been in contact with a couple teams in the league.
While Houston did not want to name those teams specifically, he said that after Labor Day he should have a better idea of potential landing spots.
Houston, who left the Knicks and the NBA in 2005 with knee injuries, said he never felt like the book was shut on his professional career.
"I never thought of it as retirement," Houston said. "I thought of it as, 'I need a break'."
Now that Houston has had ample rest and time to recover from the knee injuries that plagued him the last couple years of his career, Houston said he is feeling great and wants to show teams in September he can still perform at a high level.
"I don't know where it's going to be, but I'm looking forward to it," Houston said. "I think the biggest thing is, I wanna be somewhere where I can be a good fit."
While Houston said he had a good workout last year, when he attempted to return to the Knicks, he felt like he waited too long to decide.
"I wasn't really prepared for training camp, so at this point, I put myself in the best position to be ready before that, instead of trying to go in the middle of training camp."
When asked what the motivating factor was in his decision, Houston said it has more to do with just playing basketball, but rather making a positive impact on the basketball community.
"In my heart, I always felt like if you have a desire and you're seeking God's guidance on it, then that desire will be honored. I feel love for the game and I just see myself still playing," Houston said. "I think the biggest thing for me is the potential to have an impact. It's bigger than just going out and playing. It's more than that, it's
on and off the court. Hopefully, I have some things to share on the court with whoever I play with, but more, I see the impact a lot of NBA guys have with the kids and I think it's just a powerful platform."
*For those of you wondering, yes, Houston did poke fun at himself for helping out with defensive technique at camp. He said when he was first asked by the Knicks to help instruct the campers on playing D, he thought they were playing a joke on him.
--Katie Strang
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Comments (34)
I really like Allen Houston not only because he is from Kentucky but because he was one of the few guys who played the game the right way. If he were to come back to the Knicks it would have to be on one year deals for very little money..
Dump Steph and bring in Allan..Then trade Zach for anything you can get!
Keeping 2010 alive
with my Bulljive
First
This story is not on any other MSM wire! Congats Alan...
you are the Lone "Insider." Take advantage of all Dolan is
giving you!
And of course pray for Stabury's quick departure so that Bermanbury can't brew some funky stuff for the tabloid mills!
Houston,
Stay retired. Work the television and hedge fund circuits. Host presidential fund raisers. Love the Missus. Raise the kids.
Don't StephonMarbury (otherwise known as humiliate) yourself with something as IsiahThomas (otherwise known as moronic) a comeback.
anyone with a little bb IQ would see that a jumpshooter (especially one with a shot as sweet as H20's) is a valuable asset in D'Antoni's offense. He is exactly what is needed on the Knicks. He wasn't a true catch-and-shoot like Starks but he probably can convert easily to that. I remember last year Crawford was in awe of him while watching him shoot in practice. Crawford said Alan did not miss. How can you not want a player like that on your team? The Knicks scrambled for an unknown player like Roberson, gave him a 2 year deal after shooting well in practice and Summer league. Shows how desperate the Knicks are for good shooters.
Alan, lace them up and get back where you belong. In Orange and Blue (at minimum wages of course; we do remember you owe us for those last two years of maximum pay, no production).
Peaceman - what are you talking about? A little out of left field, no?
Have you looked at the NIT MVP list? Not exactly a murder's row of future NBA stars.
@ HarleminMD - agree with the need for shooters (last season was ugly). If Houston's body holds up, why not give him a shot?
@ Pete...... stop smeling ALAN's salt Jock....
Former NIT MVP'S.........
Some Past NIT MVP's That Moved On To The NBA
George Mikan, DePaul (1945) Lenny Wilkens, Providence (1960)
Walt Frazier, Southern Illinois (1967) Ralph Sampson, Virginia (1980)
Reggie Miller, UCLA (1985) Jayson Williams, St. John's (1989)
Voshon Lenard, Minnesota (1993) Robert Traylor, Michigan (1997)
Dajuan Wagner (2002) Renaldo Balkman (2006 )
Hey Ace..... How many are in the HOF,,,,,,,ENOUGH!!!!!
Inculdeing the GREATEST KNICK GUARD TO EVER PLAY THE GAME!!!!
Let's see. Two championships in college = great NBA player according to the flamin' racist idiot that oh-so-ironically posts as "Peaceman."
Tell that to this guy. He's got two NCAA championships.
According to Charles Barkley, NIT stands for NOT IN TOURNAMENT.
Not even Laettner believes he was a great NBA player. Just like Balkman, deep down, must know Isiah was hittin' that crack pipe hard when he picked Balkman at #20 in the first round of 2006, ahead of so many quality NBA players.
Alan coming back is a feel good story. He and Malik would be great to have around the younger guys. They contribute by attitude and professionalism. I'd take em if Big Snacks and Marbury are bounced.
I love Alan, but didn't we try this last year?
hey doofusman (peaceman), if you bothered to read the whole post you would have noticed that alan didn't post this. katie strang did. alan is on vacation...as he stated in the very next post.
damn...
No way H20 winds up on the guard-laden, 15-guaranteed contract, going-nowhere New York Knicks.
He'll go to a contender in a city that needs a pure shooter and has a short roster.
Top prospects, IMO:
Detroit
Boston
New Orleans
Orlando
Miami
Spurs
Suns
OT: sounds like Peaceman is talking about something Alan said somewhere else about Balkman having a low bb IQ.
Oh, yeah, Phoenix should probably be at the bottom of that list.
Peaceman - "stop smeling ALAN's salt Jock..." !?!? I know you don't always make the sharpest comments, but that's just pathetic. What are you - a 9 year old?
Your NIT = pro greatness argument is absurdly weak - here are some more names from the past 20 years, joining your "HOFers" like Wagner and Traylor:
2007 Frank Young, West Virginia
2005 Carlos Powell, South Carolina
2004 Daniel Horton, Michigan
2001 Marcus Hill, Tulsa
2000 Robert O'Kelley, Wake Forest
1999 Sean Lampley, Cal
1996 Erick Strickland, Nebraska
1995 Shawn Smith, Va. Tech
1994 Doremus Bennerman, Siena
1992 Bryant Stith, Virginia
1990 Scott Draud, Vanderbilt
Nice correlation. Maybe you should stick to cut and pasting stuff from other websites.
and slinging juvenile and mindless insults.
Alan needs to let it go. It's unfortunate that his career ended like that but it is what it is and he made a ton of cash for it.
I love the guy. Him , Spree LJ and Marcus took us to the NBA finals and gave us some great memories down in Miami but it's time to let go.
He hasn't played in 5 yrs, he's an old man with a sweet stoke and in half court offense with a Tim Duncan on the block he can give you a solid ten minutes but why come back for that.
Enjoy your 100 Million that dolan gave you and enjoy your retirement. Play golf with Dolan and ask him if you can borrow he's boat.
Two-faced Peaceman is delirious again.
Praising AH one day and attacking him the next.
Go back to the Fantastics and stay there!!!
NIT is not what it used to be, an elite college league.
Now it’s more like a watered down Division II/NBDL league.
Peaceman’s racial slant is in an uproar again.
Houston should stay retire. The train has left him.
Even if a team signs him, he’ll be doing mop up duties.
I guess like most retired players have said, “you can only play so much golf.”
I must say Alan is showing heart by coming back. Most players would take the money Dolan paid him and run. Houston legitimately wants to keep playing and is working out hard to do so. That being said I don't see where he fits on the Knicks. We already waived D. Nicholas last year to give him a shot, hopefully we don't make a similar mistake again like waiving Roberson for a veteran that could only give us 15 min/game max. We need a shotblocker. Houston ain't it. @ Charles do you rreally think Miami will be a contender next year?
Mak Pete
So are your post an exclamation to all bloggers who post on Fanatics to no longer post on the Fix.
Say it straight if its so.
Patrick Steven
Peace was referring two to post that were written by Alan in prior threads.
Here they are. Make of them what you will but while I won't go as far as Peaceman and question someones predisposition on topics of race withouth better knowing that person, I will say that the Athletic player v. Smart Player er... Bball IQ bit does play into a racially tinged way of assessing players.
"Farewell to Vegas...'God's Mercy on You Swine!'
Balkman is a tremendous athlete who can play a decent energy/defense role off the bench. But I don't believe he has the basketball IQ to be successful in D'Antoni's offense. It may seem like a lot of running and shooting, but there is a great deal of thinking, anticipation and reaction that has to be done in order for it to work properly. You could see just in some practices and summer league games that Balkman was having trouble grasping it.
Posted by Alan Hahn on July 17, 2008 2:07 PM
We discussed it during the summer league here and I guess it rings true: Balkman seems like the odd man out here in the new regime, especially with the emergence of Wilson Chandler and the arrival of Danilo Gallinari. Balkman is a tremendous athlete who can play a decent energy/defense role off the bench. But I don't believe he has the basketball IQ to be successful in D'Antoni's offense. It may seem like a lot of running and shooting, but there is a great deal of thinking, anticipation and reaction that has to be done in order for it to work properly. You could see just in some practices and summer league games that Balkman was having trouble grasping it.
Posted by Alan Hahn on July 27, 2008 9:59 PM "
@ Orange and Blue - Where do you get "all bloggers who post on Fanatics to no longer post on the Fix." from my post?
I objected to Peaceman's (the only blogger I referred to) juvenile insults and challenged his claim that NIT MVP's tend to have exceptional pro careers. I've never been to the Fanatics site and really don't know anything about it. I also NEVER MENTIONED IT. That "straight" enough for you?
Not sure where your comment is coming from. Do you post there? Have I ever addressed any comments to you? Are you defensive by nature? Are juvenile insults the norm at that site? What's your beef?
But I see you've appointed yourself Peaceman's interpreter/ defender. Good luck with that
Pete your tone says it all.
You are the hostile element in this blog.
You have refferred to bloggers on the Fanatics when Peace put up their comments. You were dismissive of what was posted, and minimized what they had to say b/c they weren't regulars here.
Want me to repost your words?
Just because you say something with aggression or loudly doesn't make your point true.
Peaceman can handle his own. But the level of prima donna we all that type self reference made by some, definitely not all, bloggers at this house is annoying.
I'll post when and where I want to. Basketball, blog critic on blog, or whatever.
ORANGE & BLUE:
I was addressing Peaceman and no one else.
I've got no beef with you.
Peaceman is delusional and dysfunctional.
To cry (racial) about Turd Thomas is absurd.
@Peacman,Orange and Blue
now mind you i am black
but aren't the rest of the knicks black?
(except Gallo and D.Lee)
so by dissing Balkman alan is a Racist?
but has he not said positive things about Crawford,Duhon
and Wilson Chandler?
and they are black?
in fact he said that duhon
had the intellect to grasp
D'antoni's system
isn't Duhon Black?
also
not to be mean but balkman is
not a rocket scientist okay
intellect is not what i think of
in regards to balkman
Crawford,Chandler,Nate,Duhon...
when these guys talk they
sound like intelligent guys
when balkman talks...not so much
Balkman was not the brightest knick
if you say otherwise you are kidding yourself
he is a great athlete but he played
on instinct not intellect
please keep these race things
out of the blogs
alan has said many positive
things about the black players
on the knicks...
esp since almost all the knicks are black...
peace you are killing me man...LOL
@ Orance and Blue: "I'll post when and where I want to. Basketball, blog critic on blog, or whatever." I should hope so.
Please reread Peaceman's post(s). "F U ....and the Horse you rode in on!" "stop smeling ALAN's salt Jock..." Do you honestly find these less hostile then my tone, or the fact that I was "dismissive" of some opinions cut and pasted from another blog? If you do, and you still think I'm the hostile element, than there is probably little point in continuing this exchange.
I'm still waiting for you to tell me where I told Fanatics, or anyone other than that Anonymous guy, not to post here. You made up that accusation, then accused me of being hostile when I asked you to back it up. If I seem aggressive, its because unfounded, unsubstantiated accusations are irritating, and someone who makes them, then skates to a different issue to avoid supporting them, and then whines that someone is mean in tone or is trying to censor them when asked to back it up, is also irritating.
Your words: "So are your post an exclamation to all bloggers who post on Fanatics to no longer post on the Fix." No disrespect and straight up - show me where I said this.
Pete,
you are wasting ur breath. Peaceman (must be an ironic nickname like calling a fat guy Tiny) is good for at least one racist diatribe a month. This is why he filates Thomas and hates Donnie.
Its not that we have a glut of SF's on the squad Peace, its because he's not white. Thats why they shipped him out. Nevermind that 13 out of the remaining 15 are black. That doesn't support his point so of course he left that out.
Sometimes he makes great points but most of the time he just finds a cut and paste to attempt to support his tired arguments.
This time was dumber than most.
So 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in college makes you a superstar ? Peace is still sippin' IT Kool Aid and must really think we gave up the next Rodman. hahahahahahahaha.
The NIT MVP hasn't produced a player of HOF calibur since 1985 ! Thanks for pointing that out.
ALLAN isn't coming back to the Knicks so so I don't know why so many Knick fans are against it. He has a love for the game and is feeling better so why not? ALLAN played at Pro City vs Artest and his team, ALLAN scored 25pts and a lot of them were against Artest (a few weeks ago). So don't tell me he can't do it in the NBA again, once he completely shakes the rust off... Watch Out!
@ Knicks4Life.
No, I don't think the Heat will be a contender. I put 'em on the list because the NBA does throw weird twists of fate at us - like Houston winding up on Heat.
And BTW, that's the trouble with teams whose names don't end in 's' - what're we supposed to call their players? "Allan Houston will be a Heat"? "I hope Deron finishes his career as a Jazz"?
You shouldn't have to put "a member of the" before your team's name when you want to talk about its players, just cuz somebody thought it would be cool to name his team something abstract.
I hope the personal stuff can stop because this blog has been about basketball, unlike many others. Having said that, I love Allen Houston but think the Knicks are too much about the future for him. I wish him well!
NYC2Infinity
Never said Alan was Racist. Actually just noted that certain phrases are charged with racially tinged stereotype. I wouldn't go that far. I suspect like everyone here, and on every blog of course, we all say things we might have been better of thinking twice about.
Mak
No beef with you either. Peaceman is brethern at the other blogs I hit and he will come out with hyperbole at times. Just check out the fanatics, we discussed the Balkman comments by Hahn, and the vast majority of us didn't come to the conclusion Hahn is racist. Alghough the consensus their is that Hahn, and really all of us miss a step at times.
Peace to you bloggers on Fixers Isle.
Pete
I'll have to digest your comments but I'll certainly get back to you. Lets see if we can quash some misunderstandings, if indeed I have read your post a cetain way.
yo what is really shocking is not a single commenter on here spelled H20's name correctly.
The dude's name is Allan Houston, Knicks fans.
That's Okay Knick Fans...the Lakers would love to add him to our roster........"The Man Can Still Play" and I hope Jerry Bust reads this....Give Allan Houston an opportunity to play the game he loves. Hell, how old was Kareem when he finally walked away from the game. Allan Houston, is another one of those players, that I wish could had gotten a ring before retirement. Keep pushing Mr. Houston!
The Coach