“Carmelo Anthony can’t win” is a tired and false narrative in the NBA. Not only does it ignore Melo’s 2003 national title with the Syracuse Orange(men), but it forgets that he also has three Olympic gold medals, and made the playoffs in each of his first 10 NBA seasons.
Melo was the star of a New York Knicks team that won 54 games just a few years ago. He led the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference finals once.
And despite all of that, he’s being chase out of town as a “loser.” Because the guy in charge of the Knicks (Phil Jackson, unfortunately) feels like promoting the false narrative some more.
Asked if he wants Melo back, Phil Jackson notes that Knicks haven't been able to win with him.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 14, 2017
The Carmelo Anthony era in NY might be over. Phil Jackson said he’d “be better off somewhere else.” https://t.co/flm2I2Dcse
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 14, 2017
If it seems like I’m personally offended by the grandstanding by Phil, I am -- in part due to my allegiances to both the Orange and the Knicks, in part due to the fact that Phil’s been a downright despicable character throughout his time within the organization’s front office.
When he arrived as team president, I celebrated. “Finally, Phil returns and brings a winning pedigree to MSG. The James Dolan antics will end, and we’ll be a championship contender!”
Since Phil arrived, the Knicks have had four different coaches, have gone 90-171 in the regular season and have not qualified for the playoffs. He’s torn Melo apart in the media, made him less valuable as a trade piece and worst of all, killed off his ability to enjoy playing basketball in New York,
The only good thing he’s done is draft Kristaps Porzingis.
I know this isn’t a Knicks blog, however, so back to Carmelo...
Carmelo will be playing elsewhere next year. I’m not sure where — but it’ll probably be a good city, since Melo can and will veto a place that won’t give him that, plus a chance to contend. Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles (Clippers) and maybe Miami all seem to qualify there.
But Melo deserved better than this. Better than being dragged through these past three seasons of miserable Knicks basketball. Better than Phil tormenting him through Twitter and the media. And better than the coming trade soap opera that should take up much of the next month or two.
Hopefully he gets a chance to win a championship before his career’s up. It’s not a popular narrative elsewhere, but he certainly deserves it.