NBA Insider with Ken Berger

So Allan Houston’s comeback ended before it really began. The Knicks announced Saturday that the 36-year is done trying to rejoin his former team.

“While my body, and knees, in particular, feel fine, I know what is required for me to be truly effective in the NBA again, and it involves a timing and progression that would not be fair to Isiah and the Knicks right now,” Houston said in a statement released by the team. “With the season opener less than two weeks away, I think it is best for the team to move on without me.”

Houston was not with the team Saturday at the open practice for fans at Hofstra but will discuss the situation Sunday before practice at the MSG Training Center in Westchester County.

Coach Isiah Thomas said Houston decided before the preseason game against the Nets Thursday that he was going to abandon his comeback. Nobody said anything about that when Houston surprisingly didn’t dress for the game, though. Thomas indicated at the time that Houston was sitting out to avoid playing back-to-back games, and acknowledged that slim was an “accurate” characterization of Houston’s chances to make the team. Houston first said not dressing against the Nets was “their call,” then changed his tune and called it a “mutual agreement.”

For the record, Houston is holding out hope that he can stay in shape and be available if another team with an open roster spot needs him.

I never thought Houston had much of a chance, or that a team in the Knicks’ situation had much use for him. Your thoughts?