During their time with the National ‘Redeem Team’, Carmelo Anthony made sure Kobe Bryant did not feel out of place. “I’m just a naturally—Melo… That’s just my personality. So.. I wanted to make sure that ‘you ain’t coming to practice without laughing and having fun’.” Since then, both forged a bond and when the Knicks star was going through a tough time, Kobe made sure to stick by him which is now revealed by none other than Adrian Wojnarowski.

During the recent episode of his podcast, “He told me, why the f–k you keep apologizing?” The 10x All-Star continued on what Kobe told him. “Why the f– you keep apologizing? F–k that m-therf-cker. Right? That was his words. Stop apologizing.” Adrian Wojnarowski was the guest. The former ESPN Senior Insider spoke about how the Lakers legend helped him earn credibility. One such conversation was about Carmelo Anthony.

“I would always talk to him kind of on the way to his car. It was on the loading dock. And I remember there was something. He was defending you. He was like, ‘I told Melo, he’s like, stop’, it was something about stop apologizing. ‘Play the way you play. Stop apologizing.’ It was right in the middle of the Phil stuff.” This prompted the Syracuse alum to explain what the conversation was between him and Black Mamba.

Phil Jackson, the legendary coach of the Bulls era of Michael Jordan was also the coach during the three-peat for the Lakers consisting of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. The coach with 11x NBA Championships accepted the position of president from the Knicks’ front office in 2014. He often made comments to the media, about how should Carmelo Anthony approach his game.

One such statement was that Melo could play the same role that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant played in the triangle offense. But Anthony tended to hold on to the ball for too long at times. That’s why Kobe Bryant said to Adrian Wojnarowski that the Knicks star should play his own way. The entire pressure formed an infamous rivalry of sorts between Jackson and Anthony which also moved him out of the Knicks locker room.

Carmelo Anthony revealed his true feelings about the Knicks’ departure

Jackson’s tenure came to an end in 2017, but in that period he made attempts to trade Melo. Following a 31-51 campaign in 2016-17, that saw the Knicks miss the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, Zen Master opined to the New York Press that Carmelo Anthony “would be better off somewhere else.”

Even though he was no longer in charge after June 2017, the Knicks ended up doing what Jackson had recommended.

“Listen, I’m gonna try to give you this in a quick summary. When I left New York, I didn’t leave New York. I got pushed out of New York, Phil [Jackson] pushed me out of New York. I struggled to leave New York.” Earlier this year, on Dwyane Wade’s podcast, Melo candidly explained the mastermind behind the decision.

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It’s not that Carmelo Anthony played bad basketball, he still averaged 22.4 points in that season. He also earned the All-Star selection. That’s why even Kobe Bryant had the opinion that Melo should do, what Melo does.