Chris Broussard of the New York Times reports that Antonio McDyess is feeling good about his broken kneecap. He said the injury is healing well and that he hopes to return before the seasons end.

"I'm healing pretty fast," McDyess said. "I'm not going to try to get my hopes up, but my goal is to play, if it is this year or next year. Hopefully, it is this year. I'm not going to rush anything, but when I'm 100 percent, I'm looking to play."

Even though the Knicks are only 6-13, they are not getting their hopes up either. They still expect McDyess to miss the entire season.

McDyess is ahead of schedule, though. He was supposed to be in a cast for four to six weeks after surgery. He said the cast was removed after only two weeks. He does wear a brace on the knee but he says he can walk fine without it. "For precautionary reasons, they want me to keep it on, to walk with it on, until the bone really heals," he said.

McDyess is going through flexibility exercises and will be x-rayed again on January 1st. He says he should be able to begin full rehab workouts with weights in mid-January.

The Knicks may want McDyess to take his time for a couple of reasons. First of all, they want to make sure he is fully healed. This is the third injury and second surgery on that knee in less than two years. Also, if the Knicks are out of the playoff hunt, letting McDyess rest could help add a higher draft pick next summer.

McDyess wants to return if he?s able, whether the Knicks are in the playoffs or not, "Just for myself, just to give myself the peace of mind and build my confidence up and help the team and give them somebody to look forward to next year."