Amar'e Stoudemire hopes to be ready by the end of training camp

It's the start of training camp -- a time for excitement and optimism. Sadly, however, the one Knick who seems the least excited is the same man who single-handedly created the word "phenomenal."

Now that the world knows of his clandestine offseason knee operation, Amar'e Stoudemire is talking to the media about his recovery plan.

Amar’e said hope is to be ready to go by the end of training camp. Spoke with some reservation in his voice but no surrender. Tough time.

— Alan Hahn (@alanhahn) September 30, 2013

End of training camp? That doesn't sound too bad. But is it realistic?

Amare said he hasnt started basketball activity yet. Is going to start in the pool and on the low-gravity treadmill first. Could take awhile

— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) September 30, 2013

OK, there are a few things here. First of all, where can I get one of them low gravity treadmills? They sound awesome. Can you jump really high on 'em? Secondly, if Amar'e is just starting with pool workouts, then coming back by the end of training camp doesn't sound like a very realistic timetable.

Expect Amar'e and the Knicks to tread cautiously here. If they need a reminder of just how delicate this situation is, they can simply look back to last preseason, when Amar'e practiced, played, and immediately burst a knee cyst, keeping him out until January.

If any silver lining can be found in this tale of knee woe, it's the fact that Amar'e seems to have accepted his limitations and hopes to play within them.

Amar'e says 'unfortunately my career has been somewhat tainted by injuries' but remains confident that he can function at a high level.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 30, 2013

Stoudemire said he's trying to prolong his career. Expects to play between 20-25 minutes. Says his "career is not over."

— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) September 30, 2013

The only thing worse than a woefully diminished star player is a woefully diminished star player who can't accept his diminished abilities and learn to help his team as best he can -- see: "Iverson, Allen and Arenas, Gilbert". STAT knows that he can no longer go above the 20-25 minutes mark, and that the team doesn't really need him to. Here's hoping he can find a satisfying role with the team that keeps him out of the trainer's room.

More from media day coming this afternoon.