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NEW YORK -- Antonio McDyess's long comeback may soon be complete.

The New York Knicks forward, who has endured three knee surgeries and played in only 10 games over the past two seasons, will return to practice Wednesday and can make his own decision as to when he is ready to play in games.

In fact, McDyess may return as early as Friday night against the Nets, the New York Daily News reported on Thursday.

"He looked pretty good to me," coach Don Chaney told the News on Wednesday after the power forward participated in his first full-contact scrimmage since fracturing his left kneecap 13 months ago.

"It was kind of hard to be patient today," McDyess told The New York Times. "They told me to sit down and I went, 'Nah, I don't want to sit down.' [strength and conditioning coach] Greg [Brittenham] said he didn't think I should do this. Then he asked how I was feeling and if I feel good I should just do it. I said, 'O.K., I'm going.' "

Knicks team physician Norman Scott cleared McDyess for contact last week.

"Watching him play today, one of my assistants said he can play tomorrow, the next game," Chaney told the Times. "Let's say he comes out and he plays great tomorrow and he says, 'I think I can play a couple of minutes,' and the doctor says he's O.K., I would do that. But I don't want to overreact today to what he did. I just want to take it day by day."

The Knicks face the Nets Friday night at Continental Airlines Arena, before hosting the Pacers, Celtics and Lakers.

McDyess believes he can make a big difference for the Knicks.

"If I'm the old Antonio, I can," he told the paper. "But I don't want to put pressure on myself and go out there and try to be Superman. I just want to take it slow, and if my game comes back the way it was, I can help this team."