Carmelo Anthony says he doesn't know his role with the Knicks anymore
So much for the New York Knicks' status as an NBA superteam.
Carmelo Anthony's squad was officially eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday, and Anthony sounded lost in his postgame interview.
The 10-time All-Star told reporters he doesn't know what role he's supposed to play these days for the Knicks, so he's just trying to be a good teammate to the young guys (via New York Times contributor Mike Vorkunov):
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Q: "How would you define your role the rest of the season?"
ANTHONY: "I don't even know my role. I don't know my role, to be honest. I'm just here to kind of help those guys and keep those guys positive and motivated. I get in where I fit in. ... At this point, I think my role is to be there for those guys — the younger guys — throughout this time and help them along the way, not just in the games but in practice and other ways. Just to be there for them.
"I don't think me going out there trying to score 30 and 40 every night and playing that way is going to help them out at this point. For them, it's just more about getting that experience — I said that before, getting that experience — and letting them go out there and play through that right now."
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony also said he made peace with the Knicks' failure to make the playoffs, which allowed him to embrace being a leader to the young guys:
"It was hard. Even tonight, even though we won't be playing in the playoffs and really have nothing to play for right now, it's still hard. Especially if you still care about it, still care about the game. ...
"It's difficult because it's hard to kind of change a player's game in the ninth inning. I am who I am. I've gotten here all these years by playing the way I've been playing. So it's hard to kind of take that step back. It's challenging, but I think it's for the greater good of everybody on this team at this point."
