Harrington Set to Be Knicks Leader
 Al Harrington revels the opportunity to be the Knicks leader on and off the court this season.
NBAE/Getty Images
|
With no official team captains as the Knicks approach the midpoint of the preseason, Al Harrington looks to be embracing that role as he begins his second season in New York.
Harrington, who was traded to the Knicks three weeks into the 2008-09 season, has become the team’s vocal leader off the court and a go-to guy on it. But whether or not he becomes a captain won’t have any affect to how he goes about his business each day.
“I’m a leader either way,” says Harrington.
The Knicks did not have captains last season in D’Antoni’s first year as the team’s head coach, but this year D’Antoni is hoping to announce team captains some time between now and the regular-season opener on Oct. 28. “I think about it everyday,” he said, “but we haven’t got there yet.”
Harrington, entering his 12th NBA season, is the Knicks’ second-oldest player behind only the 30-year-old Larry Hughes. The Knicks, who were one of the youngest teams in the NBA last season, became even younger this summer by adding two rookies and swapping Quentin Richardson, 30, for Darko Milicic, who is going into his seventh season at 24 years old.
There may not be a better time for Harrington to be a leader than now. The Knicks have gotten off to a shaky offensive start to the preseason, shooting just 37 percent from the field through their first three games. New York missed 34 of its 41 3-pointers in Tuesday’s 93-85 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden.
But the outspoken Harrington has some words of encouragement for his teammates, particularly the younger players, including Danilo Gallinari, who has only made four 3-pointers through three games.
“Keep shooting,” Harrington said. “It’s the preseason, so be 0-for-50 because it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t count at the end of the day. Just do whatever it takes to be ready for the regular season.”
Harrington, who averaged a career-high 20.7 points last season, is posting 18 points per game on 54.1 percent shooting this preseason. He hopes to be leading by example.
“We just need one or two guys to get going and I think everyone else will follow,” Harrington said. “Thank God it’s the preseason and these games don’t count. We just have to take these last four (preseason) games and try to get ready for the opening game.”
Harrington and the Knicks will have an opportunity to get back to their explosive offense from last season when they face the New Jersey Nets for the second time tonight. They will then host Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv on Sunday.
