Knicks' Houston retires

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- New York Knicks guard Allan Houston retired Monday, unable to recover from knee injuries that kept him out much of the last two seasons.

A two-time All-Star and member of the 2000 Olympic team, Houston was one of the NBA's best outside shooters before he was slowed by chronic knee soreness. He was limited to only 70 games over the last two seasons.

"I did everything I possibly could to get back and finish my career the way I would have liked to," Houston said. "My injuries just wouldn't let me do it."

Houston, 34, appeared in only 20 games last season and averaged 11.9 points, his worst season since he was a rookie. He did not play in either of the team's two exhibition games this year.

Houston's retirement leaves Larry Brown without his top outside shooter as he begins his first season as Knicks coach.

"I thought that we would have the best backcourt in the NBA," team president Isiah Thomas said, referring to Houston and Stephon Marbury. "We never got a chance to do that."

Houston averaged 17.3 points during his 12 NBA seasons.