Carmelo Anthony is trusting New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson with his legacy. Can Jackson do for ‘Melo what he did for Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan?
For the better part of his career, Carmelo Anthony has been revered as one of the greatest scorers of all-time. Between his 2013 scoring title, impeccable footwork, and rare inside-out versatility, it didn’t take long for Anthony to establish himself as a player who could attack and score against even the best of perimeter and interior defenders.
After years of attempting to control his own destiny as a ball-dominant scorer, Anthony’s legacy as an NBA player is now in the hands of someone other than himself.
The good news for Anthony is that the man responsible for both salvaging and improving his legacy is a 13-time NBA champion. He was a member of the last New York Knicks team to win a championship, coached multiple legends to their current perches, and is now team president in New York.
That man is the iconic and incomparable Phil Jackson.
Many have prematurely criticized Jackson’s tenure as team president, but he’s committed to a long-term vision. That vision appears to include Anthony, who was re-signed to a five-year contract prior to the 2014-15 season.
The results haven’t been ideal thus far, but Anthony is the last man to blame for that.
Not His Fault
Carmelo Anthony makes the New York Knicks a better team than they should be. There are solid pieces in place, including an underrated Robin Lopez and an incredibly promising Kristaps Porzingis, but New York is being built for the long-term.
Based on team record alone, the Knicks’ inability to win is not Anthony’s fault—and that starts with the fact that they can’t win without him.
Knicks are 0-8 this season without Melo. Going back to last season, theyre 7-43. But everybody wants to trade him. Melo is not the problem.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) March 21, 2016
Those numbers are quite telling.
The Knicks aren’t great with or without Anthony, but he’s clearly doing enough to keep them relevant when he plays. New York is 30-36 with the 31-year-old in the lineup this year, and while that may not be great, it’s a world apart from 0-8.
The question is, what will Jackson put around Anthony in order to reverse New York’s fortune? First, we must acknowledge the player Anthony is becoming.
Evolving Game
The Carmelo Anthony we’ve seen in 2015-16 is nothing at all like the Carmelo Anthony of old. His playing style mirrors his production, as he’s become less focused on creating his own offense, and more intent on trusting his teammates to build a true team culture.
Per Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Anthony’s former Denver Nuggets coach, George Karl, acknowledged how far ‘Melo has come as a team player.
"“I’ve seen a winning Melo over the last two years. I’ve seen him sacrifice his game to try to figure out the team,” Karl said after the Kings’ shootaround. “I think he’s had a willingness to understand that he doesn’t have to force the game. The game will happen. And so many teams conceptually tilt the game to take Melo out. He understands … that he’s got to make other people better.”“He’s become a facilitator,” the veteran coach said.“He doesn’t want the season to be over April 15,” Karl said. “I think Melo’s had a Hall of Fame career, and I just know right now, just kind of looking at his body language, he wants to win.”"
It’s impossible to deny that.
Anthony is averaging 22.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 3-point field goals made in 2015-16. Anthony is on pace to set a career-high in assists per game as he pushes towards his first season with an average of 4.0 or higher in said category.
It’s his work on the defensive end of the floor that’s most encouraging of all.
Anthony is holding opponents to 41.1 percent shooting from the field in 2015-16. That’s a very solid 4.1 percent lower than the average field goal percentage accumulated by Anthony’s opponents, which is a sign of his becoming a plus defender—something very few believed he would ever be.
Having become a team-oriented and well-rounded player, Anthony has held up his end of the bargain. It’s on Phil Jackson and the front office to do their job.
What’s Needed?
The postseason would be a greater consolation, but Carmelo Anthony is effectively providing the New York Knicks with the value expected of him. He’s scoring, facilitating, and defending at high levels, all the while embracing the need to mentor his heir apparent.
The question is, what must Phil Jackson put around Anthony in order to make the Knicks a genuine championship contender?
New York has already solidified the interior, specifically on the defensive end. According to NBA.com, the Knicks are No. 1 in the Association in defensive field goal percentage at the rim.
You can credit Jackson drafting Kristaps Porzingis and signing Robin Lopez for the Knicks’ elite interior defense.
The weaknesses in New York can be found in the backcourt. 34-year-old Jose Calderon isn’t athletic enough to defend his position, and rookie Jerian Grant is too inexperienced to replace him as the full-time starter.
Shooting guard hasn’t been a strength, either. Arron Afflalo has been solid, but not spectacular, and Sasha Vujacic has underwhelmed as New York struggles to determine which position Langston Galloway is supposed to play.
Anthony’s former teammate, Chauncey Billups, acknowledged the need to create stability in the backcourt, per Marc Berman of The New York Post:
"“Melo still will be in his prime another four years or so. I still think he’s a matchup problem — one of the most unstoppable guys in the league. One thing about Melo, he needs to have good players around him. They made some upgrades to the roster but not enough. You got to have a really strong point guard with him that knows how to get him the ball, when to get him the ball and when not to get it to him. He’s at his best playing like that.’’"
It all adds up.
When the Denver Nuggets reached the 2009 Western Conference Finals, Anthony had Billups running point. When the Knicks won 54 games in 2012-13, a combination of Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, and Pablo Prigioni were spacing the floor and setting the table for Anthony and the Knicks’ vast array of sharpshooters.
Signing Tony Wroten is a start, but one can’t help but remain hopeful that more aid is on the way.
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Anthony’s legacy is depending on it.