Why It’s Time For Carmelo Anthony To Shut Down For The Season
By Sam Richmond
The last game Carmelo Anthony appeared in came on Dec. 31 when his New York Knicks were unsurprisingly blown out 99-78 by the Los Angeles Clippers.
If Anthony and the New York Knicks are wise, that will be the last game the 30-year-old plays this season.
Anthony has missed the Knicks’ previous four games with knee soreness, an injury that has been bothering him all season and could require surgery to correct, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
Now, Anthony could eventually come back and delay the surgery until the offseason. But why would Anthony want to do that and why would let the Knicks let him do that?
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Remarkably, the Knicks lost their 13th straight game Wednesday, giving them a dreadful 5-33 record, the worst record in a terrible Eastern Conference. Yes, even the Philadelphia 76ers are two games higher than the Knicks in the standings.
The Knicks have no chance at making the playoffs and they need to fully embrace their rebuilding status. They took a big step in doing so when they traded Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team deal on Wednesday.
It’s time for them to take the final step by shutting down Anthony, letting him get fully healthy for next season while they tank the rest of the season away to get a high enough of draft pick that they could possibly grab a franchise-altering player next summer.
Unfortunately for New York, Carmelo has shown no desire to shut it down.
He spoke about his situation in a video diary on Bleacher Report:
"“I’m all right, I’m not shutting it down for the season yet, just trying to take some time to get it right. I know there’s a lot of fans out there that are kinda upset, kinda down on the team, kinda down on the players right now, kinda down on the situation, but I will say it will be greater later. Just be patient with the team, with the organization, with the journey, with the plan, with what we’re trying to create, what we’re trying to accomplish. Greatness don’t happen overnight, but that’s what we’re trying to build here."
"“As far as me, I’m rehabbing. I’m around the clock getting treatment, therapy, trying to do what I got to do so I can be at my greatest.”"
Some have speculated that Anthony doesn’t want to sit out for the rest of the season because he wants to show he’s earning the $124 million contract he signed this past summer and he also doesn’t want to miss February’s All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden, in which Anthony will start and be the center of attention.
But there’s nothing Anthony can do to prove that the Knicks were right to give him $124 million while he’s on a last place team. He’d simply be better off trying to show his value next season, when he might have a chance to lead New York to the playoffs. Also, while it’s understandable that Anthony wants to take part in the All-Star festivities, it’s not a valid reason to risk one’s health.
If Anthony’s objections are the only thing holding up the Knicks resting Anthony — coach Derek Fisher didn’t seem opposed to the idea recently, saying it was a possibility — it’s time for the team to step up and make the decision on their own.
Anthony’s health is crucial to the future of the franchise and there’s little reason to risk it in such a meaningless season.