Carmelo Anthony had spent over a year without a basketball team before the Trail Blazers gave him a call. The 10-time All-Star had been preparing himself for the retirement up until that point, as he told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols (link via Nick Friedell of ESPN.com).
“I was preparin’ myself,” Anthony said of the idea of having played his last NBA game. “And I had prepared myself to kinda just walk away from the game — if the right situation didn’t come about.”
Still, Anthony always knew that he could still contribute in the league. He simply needed the right opportunity.
“So if I were just to go to a team and to a situation just to be on the team and it didn’t work out, it was gonna come back on me anyway. Like, the blame is gonna be on me anyway. So a situation like Portland, where I could just come in and just play my game and have a group of guys that really want me, and the organization that want me,” Anthony explained.
“There’s no better feelin’ than when you feel wanted. And I think that’s what kinda keeps me motivated and understandin’, like, this situation is — it is and was the best situation for me.”
Melo was named Western Conference player of the week on Monday. He’s averaging 17.7 points per game and Portland is 3-3 since Anthony arrived.
“I feel good,” Anthony said. “Just because I’m 35 years old and I’m supposed to be, you know, the book says you’re supposed to be about to retire around this time? Like — like, no, I’ve always been against all odds. … I just had a year off. … I had a year off restin’ my body.
“The most important part about that is I rested my mind right. I got my mind right. And I don’t think people understand how strong that is. When you’re able to get your mind right, everything else flows.”
Melo deserves credit for playing hard and competing, especially considering his age and how long he was out.
Having said that, it’s still too early to evaluate his performance. He’s scoring, but their last three wins came against the Bulls and the Thunder… And they dropped a game in Cleveland during his stint too.
I still think Portland will make a trade for a forward, and when they do we’ll see how Melo really does.
Real glad he didn’t call it a day, so we can get to enjoy a bit more of Melo time!
It’d be great if the Blazers can beat the Clippers tonight, but it’s not happening. Portland’s only beating really bad teams (Chi, OKC).
MVP
The only reason they gave Melo Western Conference player of the week is because they didn’t want to give it to Harden 3 times in a row.
I’m glad to see that he did wind up getting another shot in the NBA. No matter what you think about whether or not he can still play at a high level or if he kind of contributed to his own demise last time around by refusing to accept a lesser role – a player with his level of talent and the career he’s put up deserves to be able to go out at least somewhat on his own terms so I’m glad that he more or less is getting that opportunity now! — He is also playing really well and if that keeps up this may not actually be farewell for good following the season but that’s a ways to go — so we shall see how he holds up and everything!
He still can’t play defense.
His top 10 comps on basketball reference include only 1 hall of famer, Alex English. I guess his game fit the times he played in but how many other players have 1 HOF comp in their top 10 and are not in the HOF.