Marcus Camby took a big step forward yesterday. Literally.

The ailing center was cleared to practice after meeting with Dr. Norman Scott prior to the Knicks’ game last night with the Warriors. Camby, who has been suffering from a mild case of plantar fasciatis, also had the walking boot removed from his left foot.

“It felt pretty good, to be honest with you,” said Camby, who did some pre-game shooting. “I’m not going to put a timetable on it. I know you guys are going to ask me every day.”

Camby last practiced on Oct. 27, prior to the start of the season. But after going full throttle that day and providing a glimmer of optimism that he could make the opener three days later, he had a setback the next morning when his foot proved to be too sore to practice again.

Camby was then placed on the injured list, where he’s been ever since. In fact, the 6-foot-11 center has only played six minutes, all of those coming during the preseason.

So while he’s been cleared to practice again tomorrow (the Knicks will not practice today), Camby says this time he’s taking a different mindset when it comes to pushing himself past his limits.

“The approach this time is to take it slow, not like last time when I jumped in there and went through the whole practice,” he said.

So when will Camby be back?

That’s difficult to say. The team’s next game is Tuesday night against Portland, but with just one practice under his belt by then, don’t count on Camby.

The Knicks have games on Thursday and Friday against the Heat and Nets, respectively. Making his return for those is possible, but even that may be a stretch. Instead, figure between one and two weeks for his return.

“I’m just now getting the boot off,” Camby said. “And since I’ve been out a month, I still need to get my conditioning back.”

Camby insists that even when he does come back, he’s no savior, and Jeff Van Gundy echoed that sentiment as well. Camby’s out, Larry Johnson’s gone, yes, but according to the head coach, that’s just part of basketball.

“We can always talk about [guys not being here],” Van Gundy said. “Hey, we miss Clyde [Walt Frazier]. But that’s the cyclical nature of sports. Guys move on, retire. We have enough to win.”

Soon enough, they’ll have Camby, too.