After making the playoffs for the first 10 seasons of Carmelo Anthony’s NBA career with both the Denver Nuggets and with the New York Knicks, he hasn’t been in the postseason in the last three years. The 54-win season back in 2012-13 feels like it has been 10 years ago. It hasn’t gone Carmelo’s way as of recently with knee surgery, losing seasons and trying his best to be patient with the Knicks front office. But now with the Olympics over and Melo winning his third gold medal, Anthony has the chance to take his recent success to this coming season with the Knicks.
This was the first time Melo played on a winning team in four years, and this Olympic experience can be a blessing for Phil Jackson and the Knicks. Melo had 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in the gold medal game yesterday. I think Melo is one of the best players in the NBA. Even with his greatness, losing over and over again could be physically and mentally draining. The Knicks are 48-115 since he signed that max contract two years ago. It could be good that Anthony experienced playing with the world’s greatest players and experienced winning for once. All that could be very motivating for him going into the NBA season.
He won’t be playing with the same level of talent he did in Rio, but the Knicks did welcome newcomers this offseason with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Brandon Jennings and Courtney Lee. The talent on the Knicks roster is better than it was last year. Last year, Melo averaged 21.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game for a Knicks team that didn’t play any meaningful games down the stretch.
Melo is now the longest tenured Knick with the most on his resume. He’s won an NCAA championship, a scoring title and three Olympic gold medals. With nearly $80 million due to him over the next three years, he’s being paid not just to produce on the floor but to be a leader off the court as well. Everyone heard Melo’s comments about how he’d still consider his career to be successful if he failed to win a championship. To me, I think he wants to win one badly. He has everything on his basketball resume except for a championship in the NBA. You know he thinks about it everyday of when he’ll be able to bring some championship hardware back home just like two of his friends, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Plus, to start the season Anthony will watch LeBron James receive his third on opening night.
Phil Jackson is going to probably get the best Carmelo Anthony going into this season. Who is probably in a better position physically and mentally than he has been in quite some time. It all starts with how Melo leads this new Knicks team this season. Melo was the leader of the USA men’s basketball team and showed how to be the leader. Melo now has to carry over the success into the NBA season with the Knicks and quiet all the haters that say he will never win an NBA championship.