Knicks center Curry out for season

NEW YORK, March 15 (UPI) -- New York Knicks center Eddy Curry is out for the season, preparing for surgery on his right knee.

Recovery from the arthroscopic operation to remove a piece of torn cartilage is expected to take four to six weeks, the New York Daily News reported. The season ends April 16.

"It's over now for him and he can go ahead and concentrate on getting healthy, and come back and be better next year," teammate Jamal Crawford said. "With most big guys, they average 13 and seven and they're coming into their own. But with Eddy, it's like it's a down year and I agree because Eddy expects more of himself than anybody else does ... . He'll be better next year."

Curry hurt his knee March 7 in a game against Detroit. Team officials had hoped surgery could wait to the end of the season, but the injury failed to respond to treatment.

The 6-foot-11 Curry was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2001 out of high school. He was traded to the Knicks in 2005.