Doesn’t plan on seeking out execs
CARMELO Anthony voiced his frustration to the media, but he hasn’t spoken to management.
A day after telling reporters in Toronto that if the Knicks no longer want him in New York, “that’s a conversation we should have,” Anthony said he hasn’t met with general manager Steve Mills or team president Phil Jackson to discuss his future with the organization. He also doesn’t plan on seeking out either executive.
Anthony’s comments from this weekend were in response to an article written by Jackson confidant Charley Rosen, an author and former basketball coach. Rosen said Anthony “has outlived his usefulness in New York.”
“My clarity is playing ball right now and getting some wins. If they want to come talk to me, I’m around them guys every day,” Anthony said of Mills and Jackson after Monday’s 108-107 loss to the Hawks at the Garden, the Knicks’ 11th defeat in their past 13 games. “So I don’t want this to be kind of going back and forth between me and the front office and management, because it’s really nothing. I responded to an article that I read, and that was that. But it’s nothing between myself and management at this point.
“My job is to go out there and play ball. I’m not concerned about that.”
Anthony must waive his notrade clause if Mills and Jackson want to move him before the Feb. 23 deadline. But the 32-year-old has indicated he wants to stay in New York and finish his career with the Knicks.
When asked Monday how badly he wants to remain with the franchise, Anthony said he doesn’t feel he needs to expand on the topic.
“I’ve proven that over the years, day in and day out,” Anthony said. “Regardless of what’s going on that’s surrounding this team, any talk, anything, I’ve still showed that me being here, coming to work every day, being a professional. …I still remain positive about that. So I don’t think I have to prove that to anybody.”
For now, Anthony is focused on what’s occurring on the court. The Knicks are in a full-fledged tailspin. When they’re not getting blown out, they’re failing to finish close games down the stretch. It happened again Monday afternoon.
Dennis Schroder knocked down a three with just over 22 seconds left in regulation to put the Hawks up one point. The Knicks had several open looks on the other end to win the game, but they couldn’t connect. Derrick Rose missed a layup, and Anthony’s putback turnaround jumper from five feet away rimmed out with less than five seconds remaining.
“When things are not going your way, sometimes they go all the way left. That’s a shot that I think I can hit in my sleep,” Anthony said. “That’s something I work on. It’s something I believe I can make that shot. I just missed it. I missed it today.”