Up in the air, that's McDyess
New Pistons forward gets a jump-start on the rest of his career
By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
McDyess
Comment on this story
Send this story to a friend
Get Home Delivery
AUBURN HILLS — The ball caromed high off the back of the rim. As several players jockeyed for position, one soared over them all, caught the ball at nearly its apex and slammed it through the net.
“Dang, Dice,” Rasheed Wallace shouted. “I guess that knee is feeling better.”
Antonio McDyess, 30, a onetime all-star power forward whom the Pistons signed to a four-year, $23 million contract last summer, just nodded and smiled.
The three-time surgically repaired left knee that has limited McDyess for the better part of the last three seasons looked as good as new during an informal scrimmage Thursday. According to McDyess, it has looked and felt good since last spring.
“It’s been a long road,” he said. “I am finally able to just go out and play. No pressure. The leg feels great. I don’t even think about it.”
McDyess, who no longer wears a protective brace, said he worked out hard all summer and never had to take any anti-inflammatory medication.
“I am good to go,” he said.
It’s been a long time since he’s been able to say that and mean it. Not since 2001, when he had to have his first surgery to repair a torn tendon.
He was traded from Denver to New York in 2002 and, in the third exhibition game, suffered a fractured kneecap. That took two surgeries to fix and cost him all of 2002-03 and half of last season.
“When you get injured,” he said, “people tend to write you off.”
That’s more or less what Knicks President Isiah Thomas did to him. McDyess was brought in at a high cost by Thomas’ predecessor, Scott Layden. The Knicks gave up Nene Hilario, Marcus Camby and Mark Jackson for him, and he was anointed as the savior by the New York media.
As such, he was under heavy pressure to get back on the court and produce. He came back too soon, making his Knicks debut against the Pistons last Dec. 1. It was not a pretty sight.
“I had no chance to get my body back in New York,” he said. “I rushed it and it took a toll on me.”
McDyess was unable to perform anywhere near the 16.7-point, 8.7-rebound career standards he had set for himself. And, as the Knicks faltered, McDyess felt as if he was made a scapegoat by Thomas.
“It was like they made everything out to be my fault,” he said at the time. “Once Isiah came, he wouldn’t even look me in the eye. Isiah never said a word to me. He slapped my hand, but that was it.”
Thomas, in one of his first moves, traded McDyess to Phoenix last January. There, McDyess was finally allowed time to heal. By the end of the season, his body and game were rounding back into shape.
Now all those clouds have been lifted. In a Pistons practice jersey Thursday, McDyess looked like a man who’s been relieved of a heavy burden. Smiles came easily. He appeared confident, content — in a sense, reborn.
“I am just so happy to be on this team,” he said. “I get an opportunity to play with (longtime friend) Chauncey Billups. We talked the whole summer. I get an opportunity to play for Coach (Larry Brown) again. I just feel like this is the right situation for me.”
There are no grand expectations for him here. He isn’t the savior. He doesn’t have to carry the team. The Pistons would be greatly pleased if, as the first big man off the bench, he can contribute a solid 25 minutes a night in relief of Ben and Rasheed Wallace.
“I don’t need to put any pressure on myself anymore,” McDyess said. “I have worked hard and I feel I am back. I don’t need no starting job. I don’t need to be the man. I just want to be a part of something.
“You know, they had great chemistry here last year and they rode it all the way to a championship. For me, to be able to come in here and play a role, I am happy and thrilled about that.”
source: http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/0410/01/h01-290296.htm
