Landry Turning Heads in Fight for Roster Spot

Now Landry has a chance of becoming a member of the 2009-10 New York Knicks.

"Basketball is something I love to do and wherever there's an opportunity to showcase my talent I'm willing to do that," he said. "If I have to fly all the way across the country, whatever... They gave me a chance to come here and my agent set some things up."

Landry impressed the Knicks' coaching staff with his energy and defense in his summer workout and was added to the 20-man preseason roster. That roster is now down to 16 - one above the regular-season limit - and Landry might be doing enough to earn one of the final spots.

Landry has played in three of the Knicks' four preseason games so far. He showed that he can be a solid offensive player by scoring six points on two 3-pointers in Friday's 93-89 victory over the New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden. But it's his work on the other end of the floor that he believes will help him become an NBA player.

"You hear a lot of people say the league doesn't have any defense, but it's a hard game to play. It's not easy," Landry said. "You have all the best players here, so you really have to take pride in something and one thing I really take pride in is my defense."

The 23-year-old already sounds like a true professional, and that's probably because he follows the lead of the players who have been in the league the longest. "I'm an observer of the game and observer of guys doing well," he said.

Landry has been keeping an eye on Knicks veterans Al Harrington, Jared Jeffries, Larry Hughes and Chris Duhon and appreciates any advice they have to give him. He also receives encouraging words from his brother Carl, a power forward for the Houston Rockets.

"Keep fighting" and "keep playing hard" are two common phrases Marcus reads in text messages from Carl, who, at 6-9, was also considered too small to play in the NBA. But Carl has found his niche as a hardnosed rebounder. Marcus is hoping to follow in his footsteps.

The Knicks will host Maccabi Tel Aviv Sunday afternoon at the Garden.