Carmelo Anthony Determined to Play for Team USA at Olympics
Not even a sore knee will prevent New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony from competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Carmelo Anthony is one of the most accomplished players in the history of Olympic basketball. The nine-time NBA All-Star has led Team USA to extraordinary success during a tenure that’s spanned more than a decade with America’s finest athletes.
Many have questioned whether or not his knee would hinder him in his pursuit of history, but Anthony has made one thing clear: he will play.
Anthony has his critics in the NBA, but when it comes to international play, there aren’t many better. He’s a clutch shooter who has taken over many a game en route to Team USA’s resurgence as the best team in international play.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Anthony expects his knee to be just fine by the time the Olympics roll around.
"“I want to go,’’ Anthony said. “I look forward to being part of that. By that time, my knee will be fine. I ‘m not too concerned with the knee. My knee will be extremely fine by that time.’’"
That may or may not sit well with Knicks fans, but it’s a desire that’s been stated and reiterated many times before.
Anthony currently holds two Olympic gold medals and another bronze. That puts him in very rare territory as one of three men’s basketball players to win at least two gold medals at the Olympics.
The others are LeBron James, who is expected to be back in 2016, and David Robinson, who won a pair in 1992 and 1996.
Anthony is one Olympic gold medal away from becoming the most accomplished international male player in Team USA history. He and James could become the first male basketball players to win three gold medals, and that’s not something Anthony takes for granted.
Per Berman, it’s fueling Anthony’s decision to play at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil—at any cost.
"“That’s what it’s all about – the history, being able to take advantage of this opportunity,’’ Anthony said. “Not too many people can say they can play for the Olympics and have a chance to win three gold medals. Not too many people can say that. That’s the way I look at it. The way I approach the upcoming Olympics.“Nobody can take that away from you being a part of history – good or bad – from 2004 until now and being a major part of the growth of international, USA basketball, being there when we were at the lowest of the low. I sit back and dwell on that and realize this is a special moment.’’"
Anthony’s shot at history is one that’s understandably difficult for him to pass up.
Even if Team USA fails to win a gold medal, Anthony would still be achieving something glorious by merely making the roster. No American player has ever appeared on four different Olympic teams, and only two players in international history own at least four medals.
Sergei Belov and Gennadi Volnov each won four medals as members of the Soviet Union’s men’s basketball team, which means Anthony has a chance to add America to that short list of accomplished international competitors.
So long as his knee holds up, and participating in the Olympics doesn’t hurt his long-term future, Knicks fans should be happy to see the franchise player pursue history.