Carmelo Anthony has not been with the Portland Trail Blazers in the past few days, putting his status for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers in question. According to Shams Charania of Stadium, the veteran forward will not play on Friday due to his continued grief over the loss of longtime friend Kobe Bryant.
Anthony was supposed to get dinner with Bryant on Thursday while he was in town, the day before the Blazers were slated to face the Lakers — a game Bryant was also expected to attend.
NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports Carmelo Anthony will not play Friday night against the Lakers in Los Angeles "because of his continued grieving and emotions over the loss of Kobe Bryant on Sunday." pic.twitter.com/jrPdl8RQN5
— Stadium (@Stadium) January 31, 2020
Bryant and Anthony were close, closer than most imagine. Not only were the two fierce rivals on the court, fighting for scoring titles and even going against one another in the playoffs, but their relationship intensified as part of a Team USA squad that had a mission at hand.
The brotherhood developed over the years, with Anthony considering Bryant a big brother and vice versa. During Bryant's farewell ceremony, Anthony congratulated Bryant on his 20-year career by saying “Hey Kobe, it's your little brother Melo, man.”
Melo is clearly affected by Bryant's sudden death, as he, his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven other passengers crashed in a helicopter ride, colliding with the hillsides of Calabasas.
Anthony and Bryant had plans to get together, and now that is something that will never happen — making it so much harder on the perennial All-Star to reconcile that fact. The Lakers also had their Tuesday game against the Los Angeles Clippers postponed for a later date.
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