Carmelo Anthony's time with the Denver Nuggets did not end on a good note, but that doesn't mean his time there was not memorable. In fact, it's the complete opposite, as the Portland Trail Blazers forward admits how special the city is for him.
Ahead of the Blazers' first-round playoff showdown with the Nuggets, Anthony opened up about his time in Denver and what he truly feels as he heads back to the city where it all started for him.
To recall, the Nuggets drafted Melo with the third overall pick in the legendary 2003 NBA Draft. Anthony then spent the first seven and half seasons of his career in Denver, earning three All-Star appearances in the process. However, he eventually asked for a trade and was then sent to the New York Knicks in the middle of the 2010-11 season.
As he heads back to Denver, though, Anthony knows the times have changed and his purpose on going back to his old stomping ground is different.
“That place will always hold something special to me. It's a lot different now. My mindset is different. My goals are different. We're going in there trying to win. But deep down, I know the place Denver will always hold for me,” the Blazers forward added, per Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report.
True enough, Carmelo Anthony is no longer the same player he once was when he was with the Nuggets. Father time has caught up to him, and his style of play has been deemed ineffective by a lot of experts in today's NBA game. However, he has found a great role with the Blazers, contributing offensively behind Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum and often coming off the bench to provide some scoring boost.
Anthony's time with the Nuggets will fondly be remembered for his dominance and scoring displays. Hopefully for the Blazers, he can recapture some of those moments when they head to Denver on Saturday.
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