Charley Rosen, a confidant, close friend, and biographer of former New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson has come out with a controversial statement.
According to Rosen, then-Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony's refusal to buy in on Jackson's system is what led to the failed implementation of the triangle offense in New York, and ultimately, Jackson's poor performance as the team's lead executive for three seasons.
Rosen spoke with the New York Post's Marc Berman, and according to Rosen, not only did Anthony disagree with Jackson's directives, but moreover, the 10-time All-Star also made moves to ensure that the triangle offense would not succeed with the Knicks.
“Carmelo undercut him, telling [Kristaps] Porzingis not to say anything in public about how good the triangle was,’’ Rosen said. “Carmelo refused to run the triangle — which is why Phil re-signed him: There was a lot of pressure from [Knicks owner James] Dolan. But if Carmelo would’ve run the triangle, he’d be open on the weakside.
“He’d have to pass and do this and run around, but he’d ultimately have a whole side wide open — 16-17 feet away from the basket. The defense would be too far away to double. He’d have open jump shots and was one or two dribbles from the basket. He’d be a killer. He’d be Michael Jordan. He’d be unstoppable. But Melo was catch and shoot and didn’t want to do other things (with the Knicks).’’
What Rosen is saying here in so many words is that based on his own interpretation of things, Anthony was such a ball hog that he simply did not want the rock out of his hands — a crucial prerequisite of the triangle. Anthony failed to realize that ultimately, running the triangle would benefit him, and in Rosen's mind, Melo could have even played the role Jordan did with the Chicago Bulls under Jackson's tutelage with the Knicks.
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