"It was never hard to gauge Chris Duhon's relative value to the Chicago Bulls over the last four seasons. The box scores and the transaction wire told the story.

While Duhon bounced like a pinball between the lineup and the bench, the Bulls signed guards (Jannero Pargo), drafted guards (Thabo Sefolosha) and traded for guards (Larry Hughes). Ben Gordon had more flash. Kirk Hinrich had more polish.

Duhon was just a steady, lightly regarded second-round pick, lost in a crowd of Thabo-come-latelies. It is hard to lose sight of him now.

Duhon returns to Chicago on Tuesday as one of the league leaders in assists, the engine of the Knicks' supercharged offense and the apple of Coach Mike D'Antoni's eye. He has met or exceeded every expectation that the Knicks had when they signed him last summer.

"I don't think it's a surprise totally," D'Antoni said, "but it's nice to have him like he is."

The Broadway lights have shined favorably on Duhon, illuminating talents that were overshadowed in a crowded Bulls backcourt.

Duhon is averaging 8.3 assists, fourth in the league. He is percentage points ahead of Steve Nash, D'Antoni's former protégé in Phoenix, and 10 spots ahead of Derrick Rose (6.1), the Bulls' star rookie.

Duhon already has five games with double-digit assists - as many as he had in the previous three seasons combined. Two weeks ago, he dished out 22 assists in a victory over Golden State, breaking a 50-year-old Knicks record.

Six weeks into the season, Duhon is averaging career highs in nearly every category, including points (12.1) and, significantly, minutes (40.2).

"It is very gratifying," said Duhon, who carries himself off the court with the same unassuming grace that he does on it."