All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony got the first major hurdle out of the way in the season opener on Thursday night by helping the Oklahoma City Thunder top his former team, the New York Knicks, in convincing fashion.
However, there remains the challenge of playing back in Madison Square Garden as an opposing player for the first time since 2011. During an interview with Marc Berman of The New York Post, Anthony voiced that he believes he will be received well by the crowd when he returns on Dec. 16.
“It’s too far away to think about yet, but it will be a home game for me,’’ Anthony told The Post late Thursday as he left the Chesapeake Energy Arena. “(I have) a good feeling. I have a good feel about that one. Coming back and playing in front of those fans. I feel good about that.’’
So only cheers?
“I hope so,’’ Anthony said. “I don’t see why not. We’ll see when that time comes. I’m not worried about how they take (the tweet). I said what I said and that’s it.’’
Carmelo Anthony spent the last 6 1/2 seasons with the Knicks where he was the face of the franchise during his tenure. He had helped lead the team to three straight playoff appearances in his first three seasons, which included helping New York earn their first Atlantic Division title in nearly two decades and the second overall seed in the Eastern Conference.
However, the Knicks had missed the playoffs in each of the last four seasons while compiling more than 50 losses in last three campaigns. During this time, there was much friction and internal frustration created around the team with the bulk of it centered on Anthony.
All of this was highlighted by his troubling relationship with then-team president Phil Jackson, who publicly voiced at the end of last season that he should play for another team. It led down an eventual winding path of him being traded to the Thunder just prior to the start of training camp.
At this point, there is no indication about how Anthony will be received but the fact that he left the organization will undoubtedly leave many fans upset for the simple fact that he's playing for another team.
This is ultimately something that will only be determined once he's back in Madison Square Garden in mid-December getting introduced as a member of the Thunder in front of what should likely be a sellout crowd.
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