Melo not sweating MSG return just yet
Carmelo Anthony said the “chapter is closed” on his Knicks stint with the Thunder’s 105-84 victory Thursday in Oklahoma City over his former team. However, there may be one more page — Dec. 16, when Anthony and the Thunder visit the Garden for the first time since the trade. The Garden reaction to the return of Anthony, always a lightning rod, will be fascinating, especially after his tweet that being in New York was “hell.” Anthony isn’t worried. He said he thinks it will be all good that Saturday night. “It’s too far away to think about yet, but it will be a home game for me,” Anthony told The Post late Thursday as he left Chesapeake Energy Arena. “[I have] a good feeling. I have a good feel about that one. Coming back and playing in front of those fans, I feel good about that.” So, only cheers? “I hope so,” Anthony said. “I don’t see why not. We’ll see when that time comes. I’m not worried about how they take [the tweet]. I said what I said and that’s it.”
The big question is whether the Knicks will decide to stage a video montage for Anthony’s return. With Phil Jackson gone, the chance of that is enhanced.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan, a Long Islander, said Anthony’s Garden visit will be a bigger event than Thursday’s season opener.
“I always felt when you play against your former team, it’s always more emotional when you have to go back to the place that you played,” Donovan said. “I think [Thursday night] was more about his first game with the Thunder, opening night.”
Anthony’s wife, La La, and his son Kiyan, who were courtside Thursday, still live in New York. Kiyan wore a sweatshirt with “Hoodie” written across the front — which has become Anthony’s trademark look.
As far as missing New York and living in one of the NBA’s smallest markets, Anthony said it has not been a factor. He knows most of the hot spots in town from his visits. Lance Thomas hung at Anthony’s place Wednesday night, but a dinner with ex-teammates did not materialize.
“It’s been an easy transition for me,” Anthony said.