Melo: 'Rough patch' with Knicks has been difficult
A frustrated Carmelo Anthony said that it has been difficult to deal with a “rough patch” with the New York Knicks over the past three seasons while peers like LeBron James and Chris Paul have enjoyed success.
“I don’t think envy is kind of the right word,” Anthony told reporters in Boston on Friday after the Knicks’ shootaround. “I do look at my peers and say: ‘Damn, what am I doing wrong? I should be there.’ There was one point in time where they were looking at me like that. Made [the playoffs] 10, 11 years straight. Right now it’s kind of a rough patch for me. I’m trying to figure out a way to get out of it.”
The Knicks have missed the playoffs for the past two years and, barring a drastic turnaround, will miss the playoffs for a third straight season.
Anthony, 31, said that the losing, particularly this season, has been difficult to handle. The 13-year veteran made the playoffs in his first 10 seasons in the NBA.
“It’s been trying. For me to remain the same, remain positive throughout this whole situation, it’s definitely challenging from that standpoint,” Anthony said. “It is a test to me to see if I could get through this and stay strong throughout this situation, this whole process. So it has been challenging from that standpoint. “
Frustration got the best of Anthony late in Tuesday’s home loss to Portland when he addressed a heckling fan and recommended that the fan ask owner James Dolan for a refund.
Anthony released a statement via the team apologizing for the interaction on Wednesday and said Thursday that the idea to apologize was Dolan’s — though he added that it was a collaborative process with the organization.
The Knicks, who face the Celtics on Friday night, have dropped 15 of their past 18 games.
Information from ESPN.com’s Ian Begley was used in this report.
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