Lance Thomas will begin the season as the Knicks' starting power forward, head coach David Fizdale said before Monday's preseason game against the Washington Wizards.
Fizdale said the starting lineups will be open "all year," according to MSG Network's Rebecca Haarlow, but said it is "in the books" that the 6-foot-8, 240-pound Thomas will start at power forward.
The 30-year-old Thomas started 31 of 73 games last season, averaging 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds. As a starter last season, Thomas averaged 4.1 points and 22.5 minutes, while he averaged 4.0 points and 15.6 minutes in 42 games off the bench.
Thomas is starting alongside point guard Frank Ntilikina, shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., small forward Kevin Knox and center Noah Vonleh in New York's penultimate preseason game.
The Knicks' last preseason game is Friday at 7:30 against the Brooklyn Nets. They open the regular season on Oct. 17 against the Atlanta Hawks.