Carmelo Anthony will play his first game at Madison Square Garden since he was traded to the Thunder in September, ending a near seven-year stint with the Knicks. To add to the drama, the Thunder enters MSG one night after defeating the Sixers 119-117 in triple overtime, a game in which Anthony played a season-high 47 minutes.
Anthony’s tenure with the Knicks included historic scoring performances, playoff appearances, and a tumultuous conclusion. Despite everything, Anthony admits that he misses New York, given how long he donned a Knicks uniform and his roots in the city.
“How could I not miss New York?” Anthony said (via ESPN’s Royce Young). “I became entrenched into not just the Knicks, but the city as a whole. Those are my roots, the people there, I became one of them. I’ve embraced New York City, I embraced the culture, embraced everything about the city, so yeah, definitely.”
In an ironic twist, Oklahoma City and New York both enter Saturday night’s contest holding eighth place in their respective conferences — but the Knicks have the better record (15-13 vs. 14-14). The Thunder acquired Anthony and Paul George before training camp, joining the reigning Most Valuable Player, Russell Westbrook, with two All-Stars. However, the Knicks, led by Kristaps Porzingis, have surprised many with their strong start.
Anthony said that if he stayed with the Knicks — something he discussed as a possibility with several former teammates during the offseason — the team would likely be playing just as well. Anthony spent most of the summer at a Manhattan gym building the legend of Hoodie Melo, an internet phenomenon of a rejuvenated Anthony playing pickup games in a hooded sweatshirt. ESPN’s Ian Begley writes that that gym overlooking the Hudson River was Anthony’s safe haven while trade negotiations were ongoing.
Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated compiled a list of memorable return games, including LeBron James‘ first game in Cleveland with the Heat, Shaquille O’Neal‘s first game in Los Angeles with the Heat, and even Anthony’s first game in Denver with the Knicks. All of those games were memorable and Saturday’s return will likely make lists for years to come. For now, Anthony remains focused on the Thunder as he embraces Saturday night’s pageantry.
“It’s always a show. Coming back to the Garden is always a show,” Anthony said. “Of course I want to win. I want to win for many reasons. I want to win because I’m on the opposite team now. I want to win because we have a chance to sweep this road trip. And then I just want to win. It’ll be fun to win back in the Garden now that I’m on another team and knowing the things we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to create and where we’re trying to go as a team.”
It’s time for your input: Did Carmelo Anthony make the right decision to force his way out of New York? Would he, the Knicks or both be better off if he had stayed? Do you consider Anthony’s career with the Knicks a success despite the inconsistency and messy breakup?
The Knicks were a Dolan dumpster fire for the past several years of Melo’s tenure there. And last time I checked he constantly said he wanted to stay.
Not sure why he ended up waiving his clause, but it was his choice and I’d say on paper the Thunder is way better than the Knicks. At his age who wants to be a part of a rebuild, especially when the writing on the wall was that the team was going to build around Porzingis.
That team of Melo, JR, Tyson Chandler, effective Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, and young Shumpert had a chance to do something special, shame it never worked out
Melo is better off elsewhere, Knicks knew it was time to move on
Melo only forced his way out after the Knicks themselves tried to force him out. I don’t blame him for finally wanting to leave after all Jackson shots he took and the general dysfunction of the team.
Are the Knicks better off without him, probably. His move has allowed Zinger to grow as a number one option, and Kanter is miles better than anyone expected. Are the Thunder better, I don’t think so. Those three players just don’t seem to fit together well, and while I’m sure their record will continue to improve, they are not a serious contender in the west.
I’m so, so on whether Melo’s time in NYC was a success. Before Dolan went all Dolan and dealt for him, that team of STAT, Felton, Chandler, Gallo et all was exciting to watch. If they had just waited until the offseason to sign Melo, I believe they would have been much more successful than they ended up.
With that said, the 54 win team represented the first time in who knows how long that the Knicks looked like a legit contender in the East.
Thank you Greg. Excellent analysis.
Melo misses NY. His family is there. He’d be missing his son like crazy and that’s why I’d propose a trade to Brooklyn as I doubt NY is a fit for him (and believe NY is better for not having him). Something like Caris Lavert, Jarret Jack and a couple of picks.
MarshMelo is a joke. He forced his way to the Chicks, who mortgaged the future when they could’ve just signed him in free agency. Then he was a prima Donna, one trick pony, played no defense, poor rebounder. Jealous of anyone other than him getting recognition. Coach killer. Knicks are waaaay better off without him, and I’m a Celtics fan!