I didn’t appreciate Melo as much as I should have during his tenure with the New York Knicks.
His run was marred with heightened expectations, sometimes lofty, and often, little to no rational (or reasonable) understanding of his role. The guy? Savior? Piece to a greater puzzle?
Every knick fan knows the feeling - we acquired Melo but gave up a core that, in the long run, was worth it, but at the time, meshed really well and played cohesively.
Melo instantly became the disruptor to that when winning was sparse. He better be worth it!
Once you get beyond the pipe dreams of scenarios, what the Knicks fanbase does so well, Melo was an absolute beast of a scorer during his time in orange and blue. He had those nights, and you know what I'm talking about if you watched him play. Those nights! The most memorable was the one against the (then) Charlotte Bobcats, where he put up a franchise and MSG record of 62 points.
There were others where he showed off his arsenal, scoring 30, 40, or 50 points while taking nothing but mid-range jumpers.
Or those clutch moments where I was vastly...again, underrated. Just go back to that overtime win in the Garden against the Chicago Bulls on Easter Sunday in 2012. I still hear Mike Breen's voice in my head on the visual...bannnng!!!
My favorite thing about Melo was his ability to put you in a blender, basically in a phone booth.
All of that was on display in that 2012-13 season, where he won a scoring title and led the Knicks to a shocking 52 wins.
I wished we saw Melo with some help, preferably a point guard. His best basketball for us was with the likes of Chauncey Billups, Raymond Felton, and an elder Jason Kidd. Even Jeremy Lin.
Shoutout Linsanity!
Just imagine Carmelo Anthony on this New York Knicks squad with Jalen Brunson at the lead!
There was a lot of frustration in watching Melo stagnate offenses, having to carry mediocre (or terrible) rosters, and, admittedly, that shadow of LeBron James looming over the Eastern Conference. We know Melo could box with the King; he just needed the soldiers.
And of course, there was Phil Jackson, and so many other terrible front office shenanigans that wasted some prime years.
As he enters the Hall of Fame, it’s not too late for Knicks fans like me who appreciated Melo, but can admit that maybe we didn’t give him his flowers when we should have.
It’s an interesting period in Knicks history, and through it all, Melo was tremendous. Dare I say, I can be talked into a Jersey retirement for the Garden rafters - with review of a few others as well.
For me, his tenure boils down to this: he wanted NYC, and the challenge that is our franchise and its fanbase. And he delivered a great deal, falling short of the ultimate prize like so many others. And that’s okay. That alone is a big notch in the respect cap for me.
Congratulations to Carmelo Anthony on a superb career.
Stay, Melo.