Before dropping the curtain on his illustrious career, Carmelo Anthony considered the possibility of joining his beloved Knicks for a final run during the 2022 offseason. In his recent appearance on his own 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, the NBA legend explained the reason he did not sign with the New York franchise.
According to Melo, he opted against signing with the Knicks due to the uncertainty with his role as New York was preparing for a crucial season when they signed Jalen Brunson and tried to trade for Donovan Mitchell.
Eventually, they fell short in their bid for the then Utah Jazz superstar and have used the extra cap space to sign the likes of Donte DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges since then.
Carmelo Anthony said he wanted to “bow out gracefully” after having “a hell of a year” with the Lakers. He put up strong numbers, averaging 13.3 points on 37.5 percent three-point shooting in 69 appearances with Los Angeles. Anthony played 19 seasons in the NBA from 2003 to ’22 and officially retired in May of 2023.
Carmelo Anthony still holds the second-highest average in franchise history, with 24.7 points per game. Only Bernard King’s 26.5 points per game ranks ahead of him.
Despite the fact that Melo did not end his career on the highest note, the Knicks pushed themselves to 4th seed during the 2023 season and finished the 2023-24 campaign with the second-best record in the East. The team reached the Eastern Conference semi-finals, but injuries to key players derailed their effort against the Pacers.
Now that Mikal Bridges has been added to the franchise’s core, the Knicks are among the favorites to win the East next season.
