WASHINGTON — Reggie Bullock can’t wait for the ball to drop to end 2019. And the 6-foot-7 swingman wouldn’t mind if the New Year started with him making his Knicks debut.
Bullock, who returned to practice 10 days ago, is on the verge of playing his first game and hasn’t been ruled out for their Jan. 1 encounter against the Trail Blazers at the Garden.
“If the team and organization thinks it’s the best thing for me,” Bullock told The Post. “2020 is going to be great year for me. 2019 wasn’t the best. 2020 will be a great year for me. If I suit up for the game, I’ll be ready for it. I’m focused on 2020 for sure.”
After signing as a free agent with the Knicks on July 1, Bullock, 28, found out from his team physical that he needed spinal fusion surgery. Then during his rehab in early November, Bullock’s sister was shot and killed in Baltimore and he left the team for weeks.
That loss will never leave him, but it didn’t stop his goal of playing this season.
“Since July 16, it’s been a long journey,’’ Bullock said. “I worked my tail off and locked in on rehab, getting my neck better.
It looked like five months was a long ways ago, but it’s been that now.’’
In the meantime, he has pitched in as player-coach.
“Being around in the league for a while, knowing how winning teams do things, I was helping the young guys and being a voice when I was on the sidelines,’’ Bullock said. “Everyone on the team knows what I bring to the table. It’s getting closer.”
Interim Knicks coach Mike Miller cited not only Bullock’s 3-point shooting (career 38-percent), but also his defense.
“I think he adds to both sides of the ball,’’ Miller said. “Very good defender. Very high IQ defender. Real high level of awareness with him defensively. Really sees things. Of course offensively as a shooter he’s had success, he’s got experience. He’s picked up a lot of things that we’re doing just watching. So that says a lot.”
Said Bullock, “Defense is a thing that can keep you in this league and I focused on having another skill-set so I can be labeled a ‘3 and D guy.’ ”
Center Mitchell Robinson sprained his big toe at a practice last week and aggravated it during Thursday’s win over the Nets, in which his 10-point, 10-rebound, paint-clogging performance was cited by Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson.
Robinson is listed as questionable to face the Wizards on Saturday, though said it was “most likely’’ he’d play.
“I haven’t tried jumping on it [Friday],’’ Robinson said. “I rested it and iced it and hopefully it will be better [Saturday].’’
Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. will miss his second straight game with a strained oblique.
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