GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- New York Knicks center Eddy Curry practiced for the first time this season Monday after he was sidelined last week because of a bacterial infection.
Curry missed the Knicks' entire training camp in Saratoga Springs, leaving his hotel room only for visits to Saratoga Hospital. That cost him valuable time as he tries to grasp new coach Mike D'Antoni's system.
"It was tough," Curry said. "It's definitely going to take some hard work to get back in the flow of things, but it's training camp, it's preseason and I've got time to get where I need to be."
Curry said his temperature reached 104 degrees during the week and he needed six IVs during his last trip to the hospital. He still felt groggy Sunday before deciding to take part in the Knicks' first practice at their training facility.
Curry looked tired at the end, resting along the wall with his head in his hand.
"You can't judge him today. You're not going to be able to judge him. You've got to give him at least a week or two to get his legs and everything, but it's just good to have him on the floor," D'Antoni said. "The week off hurt him, but if you're sick, you're sick. There's not much you can do about that."
D'Antoni said Curry will likely come off the bench when the Knicks visit Toronto on Wednesday in their preseason opener. Curry said he still sees himself as New York's starter, even though D'Antoni's system will be an adjustment for the 6-foot-11, 285-pound center.