Knicks: Carmelo Anthony Reconsidering Olympics
New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is reconsidering his commitment to playing in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Throughout the 2015-16 NBA regular season, Carmelo Anthony adamantly maintained that he’ll represent the United States of America at the upcoming Summer Olympics. History is on the line for Anthony, which made his commitment understandable, despite the New York Knicks’ dreadful record.
Anthony isn’t necessarily backtracking, but he’s beginning to put things into perspective.
Anthony has achieved as much as any player in international basketball history. With the harsh reality that his body can’t take the beating that it used to, however, he must weigh the reality of his own mortality against the pursuit of a legendary feat.
During an interview with Michael Lee of The Vertical, Anthony wasn’t quite as insistent that he’ll be joining Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"“That’s at the top of the sport, of any sport. I think if you have the opportunity to do it, and enjoy it, and take advantage of it, I think you should do it. [The Olympics are] the throne for sports as a whole,” Anthony told The Vertical. “I’m going to take a little more time to think about it. I’m not in a rush. NBA season is still going on, so I’m going to see how I feel physically. Am I ready to take on – I don’t want to say burden, but – that load? If I’m ready, I’ll do it. If not, my body won’t lie to me.”"
That’s a practical approach that’s tough to knock.
Anthony will turn 32 years old at the end of May, which suggests a summer to rest and recuperate would be beneficial. He underwent season-ending knee surgery in 2015, and it wasn’t until the tail-end of the 2015-16 campaign that he looked like himself athletically.
Thus, Anthony passing on an opportunity to represent his country would be far more rational than controversial.
Anthony has won two gold medals and a bronze during his three stints with Team USA at the Olympics. Assuming Mike Krzyzewski and company win it all this year, Anthony would become the first male player in Olympic history to win three gold medals.
That pursuit of history is just as appealing as resting and recovering.
Anthony’s chance at glory isn’t just intriguing; it’s a genuine opportunity for the United States to enter its name into the record books. The only other player with a shot at doing what Anthony can is LeBron James, and he too is having second thoughts about playing in Rio.
James is 31 years old, and has made five consecutive NBA Finals appearances—with a sixth potentially on the way. James had played 107 postseason games over the past five years, and he’s already added four to the tally in 2016.
Anthony’s recovery from knee surgery, as well as the soreness he experienced in his knee in 2015-16, paint a similar picture of a battle between history and preservation.
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We’ll soon know what Anthony’s intentions are for the summer of 2016.