"Atlanta's Joe Johnson called the idea of reuniting with Mike D'Antoni and Amar'e Stoudemire in New York after their time together in Phoenix "very enticing."

But ultimately, the player with whom the Knicks met first at the start of last summer's free agent frenzy decided it was "the best fit" to stay with the Hawks.

"Mike D'Antoni is definitely one who helped me out in my career to get over the hump," Johnson said before shooting 3-for-15 for seven points Saturday. "Definitely I thought about it."

When the Knicks signed Stoudemire with whom Johnson, D'Antoni and the rest of the Suns went 62-20 in their last season together (2004-05) he felt an even stronger pull."