Houston re-signs to become Knicks's $100 million man

Shooting guard Allan Houston vowed to improve on Monday after becoming the highest paid player in New York Knicks history in a $100 million contract.

"I promise that New York has not seen the best of me yet," he told a news conference held to make official a six-year re-signing deal first reported more than two weeks ago.

But the devoutly Christian, even-keeled team captain, who is sometimes criticised for not being assertive enough, said: "I'll never try to become something I'm not."

Houston, 30, acknowledged the contract placed new expectations on him. "I have a lot more responsibility, but it's not bad responsibility, it's good responsibility," he said.

The new deal eclipses the team's previous richest contract, the four-year, $68 million deal center Patrick Ewing signed in 1997.

With Latrell Sprewell and Glen Rice also about his size at small forward/shooting guard, there had been speculation someone would have to be traded.

"It's crowded there," coach Jeff Van Gundy admitted.

But the coach said the decision to try to keep Houston had been made last winter and was a "no-brainer" for both sides.

Houston agreed that the team, which recently signed backup forward Clarence Weatherspoon, could use more beef in the frontcourt.

"It would be great to have a big team," said Houston, a two-time All-Star. "But not everybody has that.

"What we have I'm very comfortable with and I'm very confident in, because we're familiar with each other, we have a commitment to improving every year, we've learned from last year."

DISAPPOINTING LOSS
After the Knicks' home loss to the Toronto Raptors in the deciding Game Five of the first-round playoffs this season, disappointed fans were looking for signs of improvement.

"When you lose a deciding game on your home court, you can't minimise that failure," said Van Gundy. "At the same time, overhauling your roster doesn't guarantee better results the next year."

In the emotional immediate aftermath of the defeat, Sprewell said the team was overloaded at the swingman position and a trade was necessary.

But Houston said no hard feelings remain. "We've spoken several times. We've worked out together several times.

"I really think it's a dead issue. I don't think Latrell was talking about me personally."

Later, he added: "It's not the first time that outside forces have tried to put a strain in our relationship. We're not going to let that happen. We know how much we need each other."

Houston, 6-foot-6 (1.98 metres) averaged 18.7 points with 3.60 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last season.

FLOP IN THE FOURTH
He averaged 20.8 points a game in the playoff series against Toronto but took just 10 shots in Game Five, going scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Houston has been the Knicks' leading scorer three of the past four years. Since he came over from the Detroit Pistons, the team has made four trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals, two to the conference finals and one to the NBA Finals.

Acquired as a free agent on July 14, 1996, after three years in Detroit, Houston has led the Knicks in points (6,592), field goals (2,458), three-point field goals (489), free throws (1,187) and minutes played (13,371).

Houston has started 373 games, missing only five games over his five seasons with the team.

The Olympic gold medal winner became a free agent by opting out of the final two years of a contract that would have paid him $21 million.

Looking ahead, he said on Monday: "Those expectations from fans and media, from outside, will never exceed the expectations I have for myself."

But in the end, he added: "It's not about what I planned, it's about what God has planned for me."