Carmelo Anthony decided not to join Knicks in November as a free agent, but said he feels coach Tom Thibodeau is on the right track.
Anthony, 36, will be a free agent again next summer and no one would be surprised if he is linked to his former agent, Knicks president Leon Rose.
Anthony and the Trail Blazers will face the Knicks (10-13) on Saturday in the empty garden for a matinee at 13:00. Last month, he saw first-hand the Knicks’ spunk when they gathered in Portland on a 25-point deficit to scare the blazers at the last minute.
“I think we all know what Thibs brings to the game, just his intensity and concentration and attention to detail,” Anthony told Zoom on Friday after a Blazers practice at the Garden. “Any team he has ever coached plays the same way. It’s hard to play. They left everything there in the field. Never give up. They never gave up. Whatever the outcome, see this with this young team he has now. So you see the impact it has early, especially in the first 20 games of the season. ”
Although Anthony has a relationship with two Knicks debutants, Obi Toppin from Brooklyn and Immanuel Quickley from Baltimore, he chose not to join Rose’s program. Anthony identifies with both Brooklyn and Baltimore.
Anthony and his colleagues in Brooklyn, Toppin, scrutinized one of his pickup games in Manhattan a few years ago, after Toppin’s day in Dayton, when he was still an unknown relative.
“I guess [Obi] He came to “my black option” once, “Anthony said. “I think he was still in Dayton when he came and ran. He was impressive in running. The boys were talking about him, trying to figure out who he was. And then when you watch him all day next year in Dayton, exactly what he did, then we really put it all together, OK, that makes sense.
“But once I knew he would be in that top election, this was a place I felt he needed, that is, New York. Great situation for him. Hometown type. But also just the way he plays and what he brings to the game. Once it starts to develop fully, I think this city will be happy. ”
Anthony has the new garden score record with 62 points compared to Charlotte in 2014. (The real garden score record is held by Elgin Baylor, who accumulated 71 points in the old arena in 1960.)
Anthony’s Game 62 is a seven-year-old gemstone night up and down – lit by a war with former team president Phil Jackson.
“It was different – especially since I have to deal with it every day and just accept it,” said Anthony, with an average of 12.6 points for blazers, but only 38.5%. “Never complain, come in and be professional and be there for my colleagues and just play ball. I managed to get into the yard and block everything, but still try to find a way to find joy in this and that eye of the storm. ”
Anthony seconded his friend LeBron James saying that the impromptu All-Star game is not necessary, but he added a rating.
“I don’t think that’s right,” Anthony said. “I do not think we need her right now. I don’t really know the details of what’s going on with this, so if they think that’s what needs to be done, that’s right. They know best, not me. ”
Thibodeau, who has enjoyed Julius Randle’s leadership since OTA, said he has not yet made Randle the official captain.
“He was the veteran leader, but I want a team of leaders,” he said. “It’s more about doing the right thing every day. You want veterans to lead by example and bring in young boys. ”