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Friday, February 23, 2001
Jackson will likely be a starter soon



NEW YORK – Mark Jackson was back in a Knicks uniform Friday night for the first time in nine years. Soon, he'll be in the starting lineup, too.

"When he's ready, he's going to start," coach Jeff Van Gundy said before the Knicks' game against the Phoenix Suns.

Jackson was acquired from Toronto on Thursday along with Muggsy Bogues for Chris Childs and a No. 1 draft pick.

The Knicks did not expect to have Jackson available against the Suns, but they received word from the Raptors that Childs had passed his physical. That allowed Jackson to suit up, and he wore uniform No. 31 since his favorite number, 13, already belongs to Luc Longley.

"This is where I want to finish my career. I think that would be the right thing since I started it here," said Jackson, who spent his first five seasons with the Knicks before playing for the Clippers, Pacers, Nuggets and Raptors.

Jackson will supplant Charlie Ward as the starting point guard, giving the team a better ball distributor. Jackson is ranked third in the league in assists, averaging 9.2 per game, while Ward averages 4.3.

"This is a perfect situation for me because they're bringing me in to do the things I do best – distribute the ball, be a leader and win," Jackson said.

Ward did not complain about his impending demotion.

The downside of the trade is that the Knicks are adding a poor defender who does not have the speed to keep up with opposing point guards. Childs was their best perimeter defender against other teams' playmakers.

Jackson said he got wind of the trade a couple of days before it happened but was still shocked when it went through.

He telephoned one of his best friends, Reggie Miller of the Pacers, to share the news.

"I tried to tell him four or five times. He called me a liar, he hung up on me, he called me stupid. He said 'Now how can I play against the Knicks with that same fire?' He's very surprised about me being a New York Knick," Jackson said.

Bogues, who has played only three games this season because of a knee injury, said he was not close to being ready to return.

"I've been saying I'm two weeks away for the longest time," Bogues said.

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Back in the Big Apple: Jackson heads back to Knicks




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