Jason Kidd revealed on Friday that he underwent an MRI on his injured back, which didn't show anything significant.

Kidd will miss his third straight game with back spasms on Friday and is likely to sit on Sunday as well.

"I hope so," Kidd said. “That’s the plan - to get me back out there sometime next week. I feel great. A lot better as the week’s gone on. That’s the goal is to be 100 percent when you come back. No need to rush. Today was a great day working out. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow."

Kidd hopes to be ready to return for the start of the Knicks' three-game road trip on Wednesday.

With the New York Knicks off to a quick start while he recovers from a left knee injury, two sources contend that Amar'e Stoudemire will accept a role as sixth man when he returns if asked.

"All he cares about right now is helping the team and winning," said one source. "He'd be fine with coming off the bench if that's what they want."

Stoudemire hasn't spoken with reporters since suffering a left knee injury.

Stoudemire is expected to miss at least two more weeks.

Mike D'Antoni regrets not remaining with the Phoenix Suns when he decided to become the head coach of the New York Knicks.

"I shouldn't have gone to New York," said D'Antoni.

"I should have stuck in there and battled. You don't get to coach somebody like him [Nash] too many times. It's pretty sacred and you need to take care of it. I didn't."

The parting with the Suns had always been reported as mutual.

"No. It was me," D'Antoni admits now. "I initiated it and I probably shouldn't have."

The Knicks' had a plan to rebuild while pursuing cap space.

"We had a three-year plan and it was good," D'Antoni says. "There were good aspects of it. But it was better the other way [in Phoenix]."

D'Antoni became head coach of the Lakers after the team fired Mike Brown.

LeBron James has the top-selling NBA jersey, according to sales at the NBA Store in New York City and on NBAStore.com from April 2012 through Nov. 26, 2012.

James last held the top spot in April 2011 and elevated from No. 4.

The New York Knicks overtook the Chicago Bulls as the top-selling team.

Iman Shumpert spoke to RealGM on Monday and gave a detailed description of his rehabilitation program.

"In the beginning it's just a whole lot of ice and a whole lot of getting your knee to get the mobility back," said Shumpert. "Then after getting your mobility back, and just getting all the swelling and everything out of there, it’s all about building up your muscle.

"Then from building up your muscle, you go to power strength exercises as far as squats go or anything like that with the free weights. Then you go to power, and then you start cutting and jumping. You just stack little by little. The only thing’s I have left are just more aggressive cutting and then starting to be able to take blows again.”

Shumpert maintained his target date to return is sometime in January as long as his rehab continues to go smoothly. 

The New York Knicks rank second in offense this season, as they have increased their True Shooting Percentage while decreating their turnover rate.

Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Ronnie Brewer are all above their career average in True Shooting Percentage.

The Knicks are only averaging 10.9 turnovers per 100 possession, which is first in the NBA.

Mike Woodson always considered Jeremy Lin to be more of a backup point guard than a starter, according to a person close to him.

Woodson prefers a pure playmaking point guard and though Lin shot too much.

Woodson apparently also believed the same thing during the Knicks' seven-game winning streak during the height of Lin's rise to prominence.

Lin started seven games under Woodson and played fewer than 26 minutes in four of them. Lin had averaged 35 minutes per start under Mike D'Antoni.

“We went out, we fielded guys like (Jason) Kidd and Raymond (Felton) and Pablo (Prigioni), guys we felt can help us and they’ve been great for us,” said Woodson. “. . . The Jeremy Lin thing is behind us and we’ve moved on in another direction. We wish Jeremy nothing but the best here in Houston — until he plays us.”

“We’re happy with the three guys we brought in, without a doubt,” Woodson said. “Absolutely. Very happy. I am.”

Raymond Felton believes it's unfair to compare him to Jeremy Lin.

“We’re two different players,’’ Felton said. “I’ve been in this league eight years. He’s been in this league half of a year coming into a year now. I definitely don’t see how anybody can compare me and him together. I’ve been in the league way longer, got a much more body of work. He had a great run last year — one of the best I’ve ever seen. I’m glad he got his money. I would never hate him about that. But to compare me and him, we’re two different players.’’

Lin is averaging 10 points, 6.3 assists, 2.8 turnovers and shooting just 33.3 percent from the floor.

“I’ve been exposed a lot early on in the season and I have a lot to work on,’’ Lin said. “I’m young. I’ve probably started 30-something games my entire career. I felt better before [the surgery,] but it’s just a process. We have three days off after [tomorrow] and there’s going to be a lot of things I’m going to do for my leg, knee. Just explosive stuff we’re trying to work on. That will come eventually."

One NBA scout gives a lot of credit to Jason Kidd for the early season success of the New York Knicks.

"I've never seen a player whose game has diminished so much, physically, still command that kind of respect," said the NBA scout. "Kidd paired with Tyson Chandler also provides the leadership tandem behind the Mavs' championship run. Knicks, in turn, taking page out of Dallas book by pairing Kidd with another PG (Raymond Felton) to provide the dribble penetration he no longer can."

With the New York Knicks surging to begin the 12-13 season without Amar'e Stoudemire, the question of how they plan on incorporating him back into the lineup will be an even bigger challenge than originally believed.

"We are not going to address that now," Woodson said of the Stoudemire issue. "We're anxiously waiting for him to get back, and when he gets back, we'll address it." 

The Knicks struggled on offense last season when Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Stoudemire were on the floor together.

Woodson was asked what the Knicks would hypothetically do if they are 17-3 when Stoudemire returns.

"Again, that's all speculation right now," Woodson responded. "We'll figure it out when Amar'e gets back."

Woodson previously said that a player shouldn't lose his starting job to injury.