Knicks Extend Chaney’s Contract

Coach Don Chaney received some added job security Tuesday, getting a one-year contract extension from the New York Knicks.

The extension is the second for Chaney in less than a year since taking over after Jeff Van Gundy’s unexpected resignation in December. It also perhaps signals that the Knicks will not make Chaney a fall guy during a likely poor season.

“We have great confidence that Don is the right person to lead the Knicks,” said James Dolan, chairman of Cablevision, the Knicks’ corporate owner.

With a career record of 276-409, Chaney is entering his 11th season as a head coach. He coached the Knicks to a 20-43 record last season after replacing Van Gundy

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Minnesota Timberwolf guard Terrell Brandon is unsure when or if he will play again after February surgery for a fractured knee cartilage.

“Everyone tries to give me a due date this, a due date that,” Brandon said. “Some say one month, some say two, some say February, some say next year.... If I play, then I feel like I’m the best point guard for this franchise. And if I don’t, I’ve had 11 years -- I can’t complain about that.”

Troy Hudson and Rod Strickland will play the position in Brandon’s absence.

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Asked if he can control his competitive urge and keep his playing time down as a nonstarter for the first time, Washington Wizard swingman Michael Jordan said: “Probably not.”

“I can’t honestly say how I’m going to react,” said Jordan, who struggled with knee problems while playing heavy minutes last season. “It depends on how the guys in front of me react.”

Coach Doug Collins wants to play Jordan about 25 minutes per game, a figure that will go up after the All-Star break if Jordan hasn’t had a physical setback.

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A record 67 international players are on NBA rosters for the start of the season, led by the Dallas Mavericks with five.

The league said the players -- active and injured -- were from 35 countries and territories.

Following the Mavericks, the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz have four international players each. Yao Ming, the overall No. 1 draft pick and the third player from China, makes his debut with the Houston Rockets tonight. There are a record nine players from Yugoslavia.

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Two years after bypassing college for the NBA, DeShawn Stevenson will start at shooting guard for the Utah Jazz tonight at New Orleans. He has a career average of 3.8 points per game.... Backup forward-center Jeff Foster, 25, signed a contract extension with the Indiana Pacers. Terms were not disclosed.