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New York Knicks: Realistic goals for Carmelo Anthony in 2017-18

By Maxwell Ogden

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 08: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks walks onto the court prior to a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 8, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 08: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks walks onto the court prior to a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 8, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – MARCH 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the game on March 12, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – MARCH 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the game on March 12, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Make History

In no way at all is this insinuating that personal gain is more important than team success. It is, however, acknowledging that Anthony is on the cusp of history, and for everything that he’s endured, he deserves to see it through.

So long as it’s conducive to team success, Anthony should have no qualms about attempting to average at least 20 points per game for a 15th consecutive season.

Only two players in NBA history have averaged at least 20.0 points per game in each of their first 15 seasons: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan. Both Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James will have a chance to join them in 2017-18.

If Anthony achieves that legendary feat, it would put his all-time scoring ability into even greater perspective—and it’s not the only form of history he can achieve.

Anthony, who scored 1,659 points in 2016-17, is 1,036 points behind Jerry West for No. 20 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. If he were to score an identical 1,659 points in 2017-18, he’d pass Alex English to rise as high as No. 18.

If Anthony manages to score at a high level while maintaining a respectable measure of efficiency, that should be enough to help Jeff Hornacek run his new offense.

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