Landry Fields made his first return to the Garden last night as a member of the Raptors and had an announcement to make. He had gotten engaged just yesterday afternoon to his supermodel girlfriend, Elaine Alden.
As Fields finished warmups, former Knicks buddy Steve Novak came over to congratulate him.
“It’s very new, hours new,’’ Fields said. “I met her here in New York. So it was only right I asked her here.’’
Fields has been dating Alden since July. She first announced it on her Twitter account Wednesday: “I’m ENGAGED to the man of my dreams!!!…@landryfields.’’
Fields left the Big Apple last July, signing with the Raptors a three-year, $18 million pact that Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald wasn’t willing to match. Fields’ first season in Toronto was interrupted by elbow surgery in mid-November but he’s been back since late December.
Fields, who is averaging five points and four rebounds in 25 games, was once the toast of the town, as Spike Lee used to wear his “6’’ jersey and convinced Knicks owner James Dolan not to include him in the Carmelo Anthony trade package with Denver.
However, Anthony and Fields were a bad fit and Fields’ sterling rookie play dropped after Anthony arrived. Fields flourished during Linsanity. His buddy, Jeremy Lin, slept on his couch on the eve of his breakout game last February against the Nets.
“They’ve been great,’’ Fields said of the Knicks. “It’s not really a surprise to me either. Being on the team last year, I saw the potential that this team has. Now they’re really fulfilling it.’’
* Patrick Ewing was at the Garden and sat with Dolan and Dolan lieutenant Barry Watkins in their baseline seats. The former Magic assistant is still looking for work.
* The Knicks reportedly had internal discussions about Lou Amundson, the rugged forward cut by the Timberwolves Saturday. The Knicks would have to cut a player to sign him.
* The Garden is the clear favorite to be host for the All-Star Game in 2015, but no announcement is forthcoming this weekend in Houston. As The Post previously reported, the Garden would have been chosen in 2014 to be host for the All-Star Game if not for New York/New Jersey hosting the Super Bowl a couple of weeks before. The events were too close together, NBA officials decided.
New Orleans won the bid for next year’s All-Star Game.