Amar'e Stoudemire appears to be getting closer to returning from left knee surgery.

"Soon, guys," Stoudemire said. "Soon."

Stoudemire was expected to miss six to eight weeks following an Oct. 31 procedure.

Stoudemire has been running, shooting and working on strengthening the knee, but hasn't been cleared yet for practice.

"We got to get some practice time under our belt for him before he actually decides what he wants to do," Mike Woodson said. "At this point, it's still in the doctors' hands and Amar'e's hands."

It remains uncertain if Stoudemire will start or be the Knicks' sixth man when he returns.

"I'll address that when that time comes," Woodson said. "Amar'e is still in the mode of trying to get ready to get back out on the floor, but he's not there yet."