It started Friday morning with five minutes on a zeroresistance exercise bike. Then came 10 minutes of hydrotherapy, followed by gingerly flexing and working out soft tissue manually to take out the stiffness and soreness of a left knee that has all basketball fans in Phoenix holding their collective breath.

Less than two weeks after his microfracture surgery, Suns star Amar? Stoudemire is back amid the bowels of America West Arena, beginning what everyone within the Phoenix Suns is hoping will be a four-month recovery road back to the NBA. And after two days of easy-does-it exercises, all reports are positive.

"He?s doing extremely well. We upped the time on the bike to seven minutes (Saturday) and we?re beginning manual therapy on the knee and in other areas to eliminate the tightness over the body," Nelson said. "That way, when we do get him on the court down the road, he?s really well-prepared.

"We?re starting very slow with non-weight bearing stuff in the SwimEx (pool) that has a 7-foot well ? so he can?t touch bottom," Nelson said. "Amar? is very focused, very positive. He?s in a good frame of mind and so far all the indications are great.??