“Fits With The team”: Former Coach Advises Carmelo Anthony to Stay with Trailblazers For The Remainder of his NBA Career

Carmelo Anthony experienced a career resurgence this season in the NBA. Anthony played as a role-player for the Portland Trail Blazers as they clinched the eighth seed in the Western Conference. During the NBA Bubble in Orlando, ‘Melo made many clutch shots for the Blazers.

Anthony has had a tumultuous career in the NBA. Drafted third overall in the NBA Draft, he spent his first 8 years in the league with the Denver Nuggets. Under the tutelage of coach George Karl, ‘Melo became one of the best young prospects in the league. By 2011, he was traded to the Knicks. The next years of Melo’s career saw him consistently get knocked out in the Playoffs.

After his stint in New York, Melo has bounced around from franchises. After disappointing tenures with the Rockets and the Thunder, Melo signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on a one-year non-guaranteed contract. At this point, Anthony was a 16-year veteran in the league and was considered not-good-enough to play an important role in the NBA.

But Anthony surprised everyone and showed that he still had plenty to contribute as a player on an NBA franchise. He averaged close to 16 points per game, often coming off the bench. This season has really increased Anthony’s value as a player. Many are wondering what his decision will be in free agency, and whether he will stay in Portland.

Karl advises Carmelo Anthony to stay in Portland

Former Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl spoke in an interview about what Carmelo Anthony should do this off-season. He said, “I think he fits in Portland. It seems like him and Jerry have a connection and a communication level that I haven’t seen it with Melo in a lot of his stops along the way in his career. And he fits with the team, and why try to figure it out someplace else, when you got a good place, good team, supposed to be really good. I would recommend him going back to Portland…What you got in Portland, you know you got it. The other places you’re going to have to fit in a little bit. And I wouldn’t take that chance at this stage in his career.”

Karl and Anthony have shared success together, with the two reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2009 with the Nuggets. However, Karl has also criticized ‘Melo for a number of reasons in his book a few years ago.

‘Melo has been rumored to be returning to the Knicks. Anthony’s decision will be a major talking point this off-season.