Back Problems Force Knicks’ Johnson to Quit

The New York Knicks and Larry Johnson completed a buyout agreement Wednesday that ends the 10-year veteran’s NBA career. Johnson will receive the remaining $28.8 million owed on his contract, his agent said.

Chronic back problems forced Johnson’s retirement. He did not report to training camp with the rest of the team, and his locker had been given to Shandon Anderson.

Johnson, 32, who along with Allan Houston had been with the team longer than any player except Charlie Ward, was one of the Knicks’ captains.

“You cannot measure Larry’s importance to this team over the past five seasons by just looking at his statistics,” General Manager Scott Layden said.

The forward was drafted by Charlotte out of Nevada Las Vegas in 1991. He played with the Hornets for five years and was traded to the Knicks for the 1995-96 season.

He signed a 12-year, $84-million contract after his rookie season despite having three guaranteed years remaining on his first deal. The Knicks waived Johnson immediately before his retirement announcement.

In 707 regular-season games, Johnson, a two-time all-star, averaged 16.2 points.

His playoff average was 14.2 points in 66 games, although he was unable to play for the Knicks in May during the postseason because of back pain.

The Knicks applied to the NBA for a medical exception that would allow them to sign a replacement player at a starting salary of as much as $4.53 million.

The Knicks received an injury exception last month when center Luc Longley retired, but did not use it before it expired Oct. 1.

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The architectural firm responsible for the Indiana Pacers’ Conseco Fieldhouse will build the new arena for the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Memphis Arena Public Building Authority voted unanimously to hire Kansas City, Mo.-based Ellerbe Becket for the job.

The decision capped months of talk by team supporters wanting the city’s new arena to resemble Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Grizzlies, who open the season Nov. 1, will play at The Pyramid while the new arena is under construction.

The Pyramid is a 10-year-old downtown home to University of Memphis basketball.

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Chicago Bull forward Ron Artest had surgery to repair his right ring finger and will be sidelined about 10 weeks.

Artest injured the finger in August during training, but continued to prepare for the season.

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The New Jersey Nets signed former Princeton center Steve Goodrich, adding depth at the position.

The 6-foot-10 Goodrich played 12 games with the Chicago Bulls last season, averaging 1.6 points and 1.8 rebounds.

Todd MacCulloch will probably start at center for the Nets, who earlier acquired rookie center Jason Collins in a trade with the Houston Rockets.