Knicks' Bargnani, Shved insist no desire to play in Europe next season

After several underwhelming seasons for each, questions have surfaced as to whether Andrea Bargnani and Alexey Shved will be playing in Europe at this time next year. 

But the New York Knicks' duo both insist they have every intention of continuing their careers in the NBA.  

"Absolutely, I don't see this question at this point," a supposedly angry Bargnani responded to reporters. "What's the point of the question at this point of season? But yeah, I want to play in the NBA."

On the last legs of a five-year deal, the oft-injured Bargnani is finally showing the Knicks flashes of what could have been.

Trades and injuries have made Bargnani the de facto No. 1 option on offense and he's responded with some encouraging play. The 7-footer is averaging 15.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and shooting 45.7 percent from the field over his last eight games. Bargnani has stepped up even more since joining the starting unit, averaging 18 points, 4.8 rebounds and three assists while shooting 50.9 percent in fours games.

He's scored 25 points in two of the last four contests, while showing an ability to stretch the floor and execute from long range. For a player who has missed 89 games in two seasons since joining the Knicks, finishing the year out strong will go a long way in determining what type of pay day he can expect. 

Bargnani, the 2006 No. 1 overall pick, has failed to stay healthy and live up to expectations, but he'll be just 30 years old at the start of next season and has averaged 15 points per game over nine seasons.

Shved, meanwhile, is on his fourth team in three seasons and has largely struggled in limited minutes, evidenced by his career 36.2-percent mark from the field. His shooting has remained poor with the Knicks, but he's averaging 10 points in 18.6 minutes over six games, feeling comfortable in the team's triangle offense.

"I don't know who said this," Shved said regarding his supposed desire to play in Europe. "But I've never said this. I'm not thinking about that. I want to stay here."