Is life really unfair? That question pops into your head every time you glance at Carmelo Anthony’s stellar career. His resume is something most NBA players would kill for. 10-time All-Star, three Olympic gold medals, and induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Yet, one thing that has always been elusive to him is a championship ring. And while his old squad, the New York Knicks, are currently grinding it out against the Pacers in the playoffs, you can’t help but wonder. What if they came knocking on Melo’s door for help? Would he suit up for one last ride? Or would he just sit back and let them figure it out?

Carmelo gathered 10 NBA All-Star selections in his career. And seven of those came during his seven-year run with the New York Knicks. While Phil Jackson might not agree, Carmelo is a household name for the Knicks. Now, with New York undeniably struggling to keep pace with the Pacers in the playoffs, the question naturally crossed Paul George’s mind as well. On the recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, the two thrashed it out.

Before Melo even thought about it, he made one thing crystal clear: he’s not chasing a coaching gig. As Carmelo explained, “I don’t feel like i would be a really good coach because my passion for the game would get in the way” Melo explained it perfectly as he explained, “I’ve been through every situation and My passion for the game and the way I prepared for the game and thought the game and executed the game for me to coach you my standards are way to high…And I don’t think anybody at that young age would know how to accept that passion coming from me.” 

As for a front office role? Melo’s open to it, but only under certain conditions. Carmelo didn’t shut the door on the idea. In fact, he made it clear that it all comes down to the situation. “It depends on the situation,” Melo said. If someone in a high-ranking position came to him with full control, Melo would seriously consider it. He painted the picture himself, saying, “Melo, we really want you to come in here and have this situation and built this situation and you put your team together and… here’s 5 years we can’t question anything you do for 5 years, I’m good.”

That’s the Melo we know. He’s never been about halfway involvement or just showing up as a figurehead. If he’s stepping into that role, he wants full control to build a roster his way, no strings attached. And the crazy part? Melo’s always open to new opportunities. Just a few months back, he even expressed interest in joining NBA ownership, specifically with the $4.1 billion Washington Wizards. “I want to buy the Wizards,” Carmelo said.

But now, the team he’s considering running from the front office is the same one where things ended on a pretty sour note. Remember how messy it got between Melo and the Knicks toward the end?

Carmelo Anthony reflects on his exit from the Knicks

Before Carmelo became a New York legend (and sometimes a lightning rod), he spent seven-plus seasons with the Denver Nuggets. Then, midway through the 2010-11 season, he was traded to the Knicks. Their chemistry started strong. Melo spent six and a half seasons in New York. They made it to the playoffs in each of his first three years and even reached the second round in 2013. But as we all know, his time with the Knicks didn’t end on a high note. And Carmelo puts the blame squarely on former Knicks president Phil Jackson.

Jackson, with 11 NBA titles between the Bulls and Lakers, took over as Knicks president in 2014. One of his first moves was locking Melo into a five-year deal, complete with a no-trade clause. But after a disappointing 31-51 season in 2016-17, with the Knicks missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, Jackson told the press that Anthony “would be better off somewhere else.” That sparked confusion and frustration. On a recent episode of The Why with Dwyane Wade, Melo didn’t hold back either.

“Bro, I don’t understand this s—. To this day, I really don’t understand it. There’s no explanation,” Carmelo Anthony said. He also added, “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.” 

Melo’s words reveal just how deeply the situation affected him. He felt utterly betrayed by the very team he gave so much to. That tension set the stage for what many consider one of the most surprising exits in recent Knicks history.