Mario Hezonja's brief tenure as a Knick has been mostly underwhelming, but the 6-foot-8 Croatian does not plan finishing out the 2018-19 season on a selfish note.

With free agency pending for the 2015 fifth overall pick, he was adamant that he will not hog all of the shots down the stretch to boost his stats and perhaps give himself more opportunities this summer.

I don't give a s--t that I'm a free agent," Hezonja told Marc Berman of the New York Post. "I'm trying to help these guys as well. I don't give a s--t about myself. I'll be fine. Trust me. I'll be fine. With my basketball skill, talent and abilities, I'll always be fine. I just want to help these guys with stuff I've been through in my career in both Europe and here."

Hezonja is expected to return to the rotation Tuesday night against the Pacers. He's missed the last 10 games with a bone bruise in his leg.

"I know it's a very sensitive situation here with a lot of free agents and a lot of young guys I'm trying to help," he added. "If I see something in practice, I try to correct them. We have to continue to show togetherness and finish on a good note. A lot of teams don't achieve playoffs they just give up."

The numbers back Hezonja's claim. He's averaged 7.6 points per game and is shooting 39.7 percent from the field on about seven shots a game.

The 24-year-old signed a one-year, $6.5-million deal with New York last summer. General manager Scott Perry drafted him in Orlando. And Hezonja is not ruling out a potential return to Madison Square Garden.

"I love New York," Hezonja said. "I definitely want to talk to see the clearer path and what's going to happen long term. I am super close to everyone in the organization. I can really call for a one-on-one whenever I want. We will meet. They're my No. 1 priority. Even though it's a bad, rough season individually and as a team, I feel I have support of the city."

Popular in the Community