Appearing today on ESPN’s First Take, Carmelo Anthony told Stephen A. Smith that the end of his tenure with the Rockets left a bad taste in mouth and made him question whether he wanted to continue trying to play in the NBA (video link).
However, after taking some time off to consider his options, Anthony remains committed to finding a new NBA home, he tells Smith. According to Carmelo, he’s “in the gym every single day” as he works toward a comeback.
“I love the game too much to be away from it,” Anthony said (video link).
During a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” Anthony’s trainer Chris Brickley suggested that the 10-time All-Star wants a “farewell season” like the one Dwyane Wade had. That assertion was met with some criticism, but Anthony made it clear in his conversation on First Take today that the idea of a “farewell season” wasn’t coming from him.
“I never said anything about a farewell tour,” Anthony said, per ESPN. The former All-NBA forward added that he feels as if “there’s too many people speaking on my name, and I don’t like that” (video link).
While Anthony disputed one of Brickley’s claims, he agreed with another — Carmelo’s trainer said during his Breakfast Club appearance that the 35-year-old is ready and willing to play a reduced role, a point Anthony reiterated to Smith.
“What’s going to make me happy is going to a place, playing basketball, enjoying it again, [and] accepting a role that I might not normally have accepted in the past,” Anthony said. “I don’t mind coming off the bench, that’s not an issue with me.”
Asked by Smith which team he might like to join, Anthony didn’t name any specific clubs, but he stressed two priorities — competing for a championship and ideally earning consistent playing time in the process.
“I went to Oklahoma City to try to win a championship. I went to Houston to try to win a championship. The ultimate goal is to win a championship. That’s the only thing left for me to do is to win a championship.” Anthony said (video link). “But I also want to play. I want to get back out there on the court. I miss the game. I was away from the game for damn near a whole season.
“I got an opportunity to step back, I got an opportunity to grow as a person, as a man. And I deserve another shot. I want another shot. I’ll never stop loving the game until I decide to say ‘This is over’ and I can pass that on to somebody else.”
As we noted in our recap of NBA roster counts earlier today, only six of 30 teams currently have 15 (or more) players on fully guaranteed contracts on their rosters, so there could still be some landing spots available to Anthony as training camps approach.
would rather the Lakers saved their last roster spot for Iguodala
melo better than iggy
In what way? Scoring ability? Sure. Passing? Defense? Ball handling? Iggy is way way WAY better.
LA doesn’t need a scoring forward, they need a guy that can play defense and move the ball. That’s not Melo.
Iggy!
Kings ? 76ers ? Bulls ? Cavs ? Heat ? Wizards ? Pistons ? Idk depends if he wants playing time or a ring
I can’t think of a better headline for an article about Carmelo Anthony than “I Want Another Shot”.
Ya, that guy always wants to jack up a shot.
Well played. Made me laugh out loud. Literally.
And I want a winning Powerball ticket
The hot shot isn’t so hot anymore eh?
back up player but wants minutes.lol hes better off playing overseas, maybe call up Marbury. the team that signs him will be making a big mistake
Well he said he’s willing to come off the bench, so. . . one problem solved. Now about those long 2s, and bending knees on defense.
Carmelo Anthony: “I Want Another Shot”
That’s fine that you are in the gym everyday, but what kind of shape are you in??
Can you teach Ben Simmons something? If so the Sixers could have a spot for you!!!!
Only reason Melo’s a HOF is because it’s not the Pro Basketball HOF, just fade away bro
I mostly agree, only his status as a high profile player for the Knicks helps him too. NY is an influential place when a lot of Hof voters live there.
What about his 25,551 points… I am pretty sure they do help massively to put him in the HoF… I mean there is no way he can’t be with all those points, man!
Any half decent player could accumulate thousands of points if they got the ball and ran iso on literally every position, every game, 12 years in a row.
Possession* not position.
Melo has almost the exact same fg% and fg per game as Kobe. he’s just never been a good defender. onny 20-25 guys with 25,000. he belongs in the hall.
I don’t particularly like Melo for the fact that he took so many plays off on defense, and was a ball stopper on the half court offensively, but he’s been an elite scorer for many years. He got those looks because he is a top tier producer – you can’t throw anyone in there and expect 25,000 points.
To put it in another perspective for you…Joe Johnson will also be going to the HOF eventually…every player that has scored 20,000 points is in the HOF. Get what I’m saying?
“I want another shot”
When did he start dating a Kardashian? I thought those players were the ones constantly needing more shots.
Well done!
He deserves NOTHING. Locker room over paid whining Prima Donna cancer. Look up at what is wrong in Pro Sports and there is his picture.
I was really hoping he’d play for the Heat last year. Thos year I still would have taken him before the Butler deal. Now, there isnt a spot unfortunately b/c of the hardcap. I can see several teams that can use him at the 4 spot
Who cares what Carmelo wants…..whiner…..cocky…..drinks his own bath water….no cred…..over the hill….
This is becoming slightly pathetic. I really hate saying that. This is an end not worthy of his career.
Or maybe it is? There was always something just not quite likable about his game, his attitude… Too bad.
Melo to the Lakers surely. Wouldn’t really mind him at the 76ers either playing off the bench. He would also fit in pretty well in Miami with Butler and Paul if they hurry up and make that trade. Wouldn’t be surprised if LeBron was to go back to Miami for the final year of his career if they had Paul and Butler and Melo. But if he wants minutes and shots go to Washington. Imagine Line ups of Thomas Beal Melo all on the floor wanting the ball hahaha.
Melo had his shot in Houston last year, and he blew it. He could have stepped out of the rotation, been a leader in the lockerroom, finished the season, and then walked away from the game reputation intact. Instead, he couldn’t take the demotion, and made things worse for himself.
As a player, he never struck me as smart, self aware, or hard-working. Nothing I’ve seen in the last 2 years has changed my perception of him.
“And I deserve another shot”
That should go on his tombstone.
Melo always wants everything on his terms which isn’t surprising considering he’s always been one of the most self-absorbed fools ever to play a team game. It’s over bro. Deal with it.
Let’s just go down the list of teams & the 3/4’s he’d start over.
Nets: Melo > Kurucs
Celtics: Melo > Theis/Williams/Kanter
Hornets: Melo > Batum/Bridges, Williams/MKG
Cavs: Melo > Osman
Mavs: Melo > Finney-Smith
Pistons: Melo > Brown/Snell
Warriors: Melo > GRIII
Memphis: Melo > Anderson
Wolves: Melo > Vonleh
OKC: Melo > Muscala
Blazers: Melo > Little/Skal
Kings: Melo > Ariza
Raptors: Melo > Johnson
Jazz: Melo > Green
Wizards: Melo > Brown/Bertans
So… no to Sixers, LAL, LAC, Spurs, Suns, Hawks, Magic, Knicks, Pels, Nuggets, Bucks, Heat, Pacers, Rockets, Bulls.
So he is better than at least 1 starter (per depth on rotoworld.com) on half the teams in the league. And this isn’t nostalgia he’s better. If you combine his 2 trash seasons in OKC and Houston he’s better than all those dudes.
I got to the second entry when you said Williams and Kanter for the Celtics were “3/4’s” and I stopped reading.
You are soooo right bro!!! People are so full of sh**!!! Melo right now is better than a lot of those dudes and could’ve really helped Houston in the playoffs. Say you don’t like him for whatever reason but don’t say he can’t help a lot of teams cause that wouldn’t be true.
Melo could start yes but man your totally WACK on those team bro.
Nets have Durant, Prince, Temple, Chandler at 3/4
Celtics Have Tatum/Haywood plus Williams
Hornets have Bridges/Washington an Batum/Williams
Mavs have Hardaway/Porzingod and DFS/Kleber
Pistons have Snell/Griffin and Douyomba/Morris
Memphis has Anderson/Jackson an Crowder/Clarke
OKC has Roberson/Gallo and Bazley/Muscala
Blazers have Bazemore/Collins and Hood/Hezonja
Kings have Barnes/Bagely and Ariza/Bjlica
Raptors have Angunoby/Siakim and Powell/Ibaka
Jazz have Ingles/Bogdan and Green
So there goes most those teams. If he’s looking to start he could get time from the
Warriors at the 3
and that’s bout it for possibly starting
He’s better off playing off the bench as a stretch 3/4 who nails corner 3s and can do a little isso on some teams. But he needs to be better on D and less selfish. He could play roles for the 6ers, Lakers, Heat, Warriors, Mavs and the Trail Blazers off the bench in a play off run but that’s about it bro
He would not fit on the Warriors as their bit is “WE” not his self-centered “ME” attitude…….the “WE” bit fits with most of the teams in the NBA.
Yeah that is true but he does have a good 3 point splash and he’s better than Robinson. Weirder things have happened
IF he came with the right attitude, there are minutes to be earned with the Warriors. I also like the idea of Brooklyn for a year until KD returns.
That’s Melo. Hopeless. When he can speak about a possible NBA future in terms of how he thinks he can help a contending team, and not about what he thinks he deserves, someone might actually listen.
Carmelo don’t go away mad.
Carmelo just go away.
Troll!!! Stop the hate, it ain’t good for your health dude! You always hating in this site!
Yeah, I am super mad all the time.
He wants a ring but he also wants consistent playing time. Usually those two things don’t go together for older players.
His best bet is taking the worst team available and proving himself. And then hopefully a contender actually wants him at the deadline.
Who gets signed first? Melo or Vince?
Vince McMahon probably signs before Melo
Minnesota should try it could be a nice PF
If Dallas could get a deal done for iggy and then swing for melo, i would love that.
Starting lineup Wright, Iggy, Luka, KP, and boban. Bench would be Barea, THJ, melo, klebier and powell. Still have Brunson, finney-smith as well. I would assume they trade lee and justin jackson for Iggy. I rather trade finney smith instead of jackson but we cant trade him until december
Think Iggy would be good but he’s not a 2 and hardly a starter. I’d say the line up is more like
Wright, Doncic, Hardaway, Porzingod and Powell.
Off the bench you have Brunson, Barea and Curry, Lee, DFS and Jackson, then Kleber and Bobi.
Think if OKC make the Paul go Heat trade the Mavs could get involved.
OKC: Winslow and Hardaway
Heat: Paul and Ferguson and a 1st
Mavs: Dragic and a 2nd
Then Dragic and Doncic would be the lead guards from the same country and both good scoring and creating could make a good duo. Hardaway is a little loss but end of the day he’s just an inefficient high volume shooter. Miami gets its secondary star for a playoff push and a pick for the loss of Winslow who is good on D but so is Paul and Ferguson. OKC gets out of Paul at the expense of Ferguson and first round and a second round. But you get back two players yet to hit their prime that fill out your line up nicely with SGA, Gallo and Adams.
Only way he gets another shot is if is ok with taking less money and being a bench player. But he could say that he is ok with it and then the season starts and 3 months in he starts complaining he isn’t playing enough
He saw what dwade and dirk got and is now getting a little pouty. As previous commentor wrote he screwed it up last year with Houston. Age+declining stats+baditude=no go in my book.
Saw Carmello the other day right in between:
Big KAT, Mr Goodbar, 3 Musketeers and M&Ms.
Because of the Snickers, he was in search of a Payday !