TORONTO – Carmelo Anthony revealed on Sunday that if Phil Jackson doesn’t want him in New York “that’s a conversation we should have.”
The stunning comment marks the first time Anthony has ever hinted that he may not finish his career with the Knicks. However, Anthony also reiterated that he hasn’t considered waiving his no-trade clause, thus possibly setting the stage for a classic power struggle between All-Star player and Hall of Fame coach turned failing executive.
Following Sunday’s embarrassing no-show 116-101 loss to the Raptors, a frustrated Anthony reacted angrily to a story written by a Jackson confidante that suggested that his time with the Knicks should be over.
In the online piece for FanRag, Charley Rosen, a long-time writer and former assistant coach under Jackson, wrote: “The only sure thing is that Carmelo Anthony has outlived his usefulness in New York.”
When asked to respond to that particular line in the article, Anthony said: “If that’s the case than that’s what’s coming from that side I guess it’s a conversation we should have. If they feel like my time in New York is over I guess that’s a conversation we should have.”
During Anthony’s post-game interview session with reporters on Sunday, Anthony was informed twice that the article was not written by Jackson but instead a close friend. Anthony, though, had no trouble connecting the dots, suggesting that it is more than a coincidence that the writer who criticized him in the piece has a relationship with the Knicks team president.
“Listen,” Anthony said, “if that’s what they feel…if that’s what’s coming from that side that’s what’s coming from that side. I haven’t thought once about that to be honest with you. I hear it. I hear all the rhetoric that’s going on out there and I still come to work every day and play and bust my ass and try not to worry about it.”
Anthony also isn’t surprised that with the Knicks struggling, he is the target for criticism and that his future with the club is now up for debate.
“I think I posted that (on Instagram) the other day,” Anthony said. “When we lose it’s me, when we win it’s us. That’s just my mentality and how I feel. It is what it is.”
When a reporter told Anthony about the increasing speculation among fans and media that he would waive his no-trade clause, Anthony replied: “They want me out?
“I’ve never even thought about that,” he added. “I guess people are talking about it but it’s not something I’ve thought about so far.”
Anthony also confirmed that he is committed to the team.
“People can have their own opinions but I haven’t mentioned it once,” he said. “But that seems to be the trend when you start losing, people want to start searching.”
The Knicks have lost nine of their last 11 games and are 18-23 heading into Monday’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks. Jackson’s team is officially halfway to nowhere. They arrived at the midway point of their season on Sunday on pace to finish with a losing record for the fourth straight season.
“I haven’t been paying attention to the record,” Derrick Rose said. “I just know that we have been losing.”
The Knicks’ season is imploding before our very eyes. This was arguably the worst week of Jackson’s failed regime, which is saying something.
On Monday, Rose went AWOL and didn’t notify the club that he wouldn’t attend a home game against New Orleans. The Knicks decided to fine but not suspend Rose for his actions.
On Wednesday, they blew a 10-point lead to the Sixers and lost at the buzzer. Afterward, according to a source, Anthony went on a tirade and admonished his teammates for losing. Although the Knicks won at home against the depleted Bulls, Rose made news on Saturday by suggesting that Jeff Hornacek needs to push the Knicks more and focus on defense. It was quite a remark coming from the same player who went AWOL.
Rose is right about one thing: the Knicks are a mess defensively. They allowed 69 first-half points and found themselves trailing by 38 in the third quarter before Hornacek played his back-ups the rest of the way.
The Knicks were outscored 27-8 in the period and the final result only looked respectable because the bottom of the Knicks bench outscored Toronto’s reserves 39-20.
“Forget the third quarter, it’s the entire game,” Rose said. “We allowed them to score 69 points in the first half.”
Meanwhile, Jackson has stayed silent throughout the collapse with his last public statement coming via Twitter on Dec. 27, when he announced he was breaking up with his long-time girlfriend Jeanie Buss. A break-up between Phil and Carmelo is inevitable. It’s just a matter of who leaves first.
Phil may be using the media to get his message out, but Carmelo has all the power. He’s got the no-trade clause.
