How many people were shocked to see Carmelo Anthony win Western Conference Player of the Week honors this past week? While not playing since 2018, Anthony is now playing his best basketball in a number of years.
However, Anthony was really close to hanging up his sneakers for good prior to the Portland Trail Blazers offering him a contract.
Carmelo Anthony says he was ready to retire before the Blazers made him an offer: https://t.co/kEv7GnH8CL pic.twitter.com/iQqSfJCvWu
— Complex (@Complex) December 4, 2019
Moreover, Anthony says he was looking not just for any spot to play; but the right situation. Indeed, it appears that he’s found the right spot in Portland.
“I was preparin’ myself,” Anthony said about life after basketball, per ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “And I had prepared myself to kinda just walk away from the game — if the right situation didn’t come about.”
He continued on why the Trail Blazers have been a great fit for him.
“If I were just to go to a team and to a situation just to be on the team and it didn’t work out, it was gonna come back on me anyway. Like, the blame is gonna be on me anyway. So a situation like Portland, where I could just come in and just play my game and have a group of guys that really want me, and the organization that want me.”
For one, I am glad Anthony continued his playing career. Stories like this are good for the sport, and offer a great side storyline with the major young stars around the league. In addition, Anthony’s putting up numbers that any young player would be happy with.
Thus far, he’s averaged 17.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.7 minutes per game, while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range since his return.
