Carmelo Anthony proved last season with the Los Angeles Lakers that he was capable of coming off the bench and providing an offensive boost.
His 13.3 points per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc was very respectable.
That said, once the 2021-22 season came to an end, nobody came calling. He did not receive a follow-up opportunity in 2022-23.
Many thoughts the New York Knicks would bring him home, given the history between both sides.
But it never happened.
According to Steve Popper of Newsday, the Knicks’ reluctance to sign Anthony boils down to one thing: defense.
“It seemed destined to be a reunion,” he wrote.
“Unlike the Phil Jackson era, when the front office tried to run Anthony out of town, his long-time agent, Rose, is running the show. His son, Kyan, is playing ball locally at Christ the King High School. So could he make one last farewell run through Madison Square Garden? Probably not.
“Anthony has been without a job this season, the second time this has happened to him in recent years. The first time, he resurrected his career in Portland and then helped out the Lakers. But based on one Knicks source, the indications are that Anthony would not fit the style the Knicks are trying to play — namely defense.”
This week, Anthony broke down how he feels about his NBA future at this point. He appears resigned to his fate.
While New York not wanting to sacrifice its defense for the sake of bringing Anthony back makes sense (if only they put that amount of thought into which holiday party photos they release on social media), it is still odd that nobody values his offense off the bench enough to give him a run.
Yes, Anthony comes with some off-the-court woes. His groupie drama and various female entanglements aren’t great. But they are also fairly commonplace in the NBA.
Luckily the Cardinals are about to give Kliff Kingsbury plenty of free time to join her. https://t.co/UeOUuuu8tj
— Game 7 (@game7__) December 15, 2022
Hopefully at some point in the near future a team will come along and give Anthony one last chance to win a title.
Even if that doesn’t happen, though – Anthony’s legacy as an all-time great is still secure.
Related: NBA Fan Reveals He Is Dating Player On Boston Celtics
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
