INDIANAPOLIS — Remember Lance Thomas? He’s back.
The longest-tenured Knick will return to action after arthroscopic knee surgery when the Knicks face the Pacers on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The 30-year-old Thomas has been out for five weeks but with little fanfare, as coach David Fizdale focused on heavy playing time for his young charges.
Thomas started at power forward all five preseason games and the first five regular-season games before Fizdale pulled the plug.
The defensive specialist didn’t give enough on defense to make up for his offensive shortcomings and lost his starting job. Part of the problem was Thomas not being active enough defensively because of knee pain. On Nov. 9, Thomas opted for the knee surgery.
When he returned to practice two weeks ago, Thomas said of the decision: “[It was] just wear and tear over the years. I’ve been playing this game for a long time. You play it long enough you’re going to give something up. I’m just glad it wasn’t something that needed more of an operation or something that could be potentially career-ending.”
In the latest starting-lineup iteration, Noah Vonleh has started at power forward and has been a rugged presence. He now returns to Indiana after playing for the Hoosiers and becoming a lottery pick (ninth overall in 2014). He’s only 23, and the Knicks have visions of making him a long-term piece. Vonleh was another chief contributor in the Charlotte stunner, in which he scored 15 points and added 11 rebounds, seven assists and a block.Thomas? The Knicks can buy out the final portion of his final year. And now Fizdale has a decision on how much to play him, as the youth movement is in full swing at 9-21. However, the Knicks’ defense has been lousy — they’re ranked 26th in defensive rating — and is the biggest disappointment in Fizdale’s first year. Thomas certainly can solidify that area, and he’s also their vocal leader.
“I just want to be back with my team,” Thomas said recently. “The timing for my surgery, it happened to be when we had a road stretch, so I wasn’t able to be with the team. I had to stay and do the things I needed to do to hurry up and get back. I’m just anxious to just get back with the guys, get back competing with them.”
Also back after a six-game absence is point guard Trey Burke, who sprained his knee against Milwaukee. The Knicks were 0-5 minus Burke before snapping the losing streak in Friday’s thrilling comeback victory in Charlotte. Burke and Frank Ntilikina (ankle) both are expected to play, as Fizdale will have to juggle the minutes of his three point guards again.