NBA players having issues with the media is not new. This season, we have already seen Joel Embiid’s scuffle, and who can forget LeBron James confronting Stephen A. Smith at MSG! Speaking about the Garden, even one of the Knicks icons, Carmelo Anthony, had his troubles during his stint in New York. However, he handled it gracefully and described his issue on his podcast.

“My moment was it was things that was being said in the newspaper and in articles that I know where it was coming from. So then I gave the person opportunity to just have a conversation with me about it. And he lied to my face, and he told me he had nothing to do with it.” Carmelo Anthony, in his recent episode with NFL icon Michael Strahan, shared the media ordeal. However, he did not share the name or the incident in detail.

Melo did eventually find out the person lied to him and was behind those articles. The 10x All-Star decided to address the issue during a media scrum without getting personal. “‘I know it was you; I can’t, I ain’t going to tell you how I know it was you. But I know it was you. You lied to my face. I would never answer another question from you as long as I’m a New York Knick.’ And I left it, and I left it at.” That is why his handling of the media scrum incident did get praise years later.

“But I did years later hear it now saying that was one of the most respectful moments that one of those media guys have ever been a part of. So life come at you full circle man.” This could also be the reason, him thanking the media for being an integral part of his career.

“I would like to say thank you guys, because you guys was the one as the media and asking those questions… So thank you guys. You guys played a major part in my career as well. So thank you.” Carmelo Anthony said.

Carmelo Anthony states his reason for not fighting the media narrative

During the same podcast, he explained how media narrative was different in New York and his previous stint with Denver. So, when he arrived in the Big Apple, Carmelo Anthony was mentally prepared to handle the pressure. “So that’s why I’ve never went back and forth with the media in New York cuz I just knew the game…”

Melo developed a thick skin against the “biased” narrative early on in his career. He realized he would have to “work 10 times” harder just to get noticed. The case being the 2003 ROTY race with LeBron James. Carmelo Anthony would outscore and out-rebounded Bron, yet still lost 78 to 40 for first place votes. In fact, the Cavs did not make it to the playoffs, unlike Melo’s Nuggets.

But that ROTY loss or any other narrative did not hamper the Syracuse alum’s path in the league. That is why he is now a certified first-ballot Hall of Famer. Let’s not forget that from the next season, he would begin his media stint with NBC. In fact, Melo has already planned out his different approach from the current media landscape.