Carmelo Anthony Exclusive: NBA Legend Talks New York Knicks, LeBron James

Since acquiring Jalen Brunson prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, the Knicks have been improving each year, most recently making their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the 1999-2000 season.

The Knicks were two games away from advancing to the NBA Finals before they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers. Fast forward several months later and the East is there for the taking with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the upcoming season due to an Achilles injury.

Meanwhile, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will also be sidelined for the majority of the season due to his own Achilles injury.

“They were right there,” Anthony told Poker Scout in an exclusive interview. “The Knicks were right there. I don’t really think that they need much. You talk about a team who was 1-2 (seed) in the Eastern Conference last year, you’re talking about a team as a top three, four team in the NBA overall. It’s about experiencing that and building on that, and doing the little things in the details that it takes to to put yourself in position to win a championship.”

When asked what the Knicks need in order to get to the next level, the former Knicks star has a quick response — they have “everything.” New York has the lead star and MVP candidate in Brunson, a legit and proven second option in Karl Anthony-Towns along with veteran role players such as Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

New York will have a new head coach in Mike Brown after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau.

“As far as what they need, I think they have everything,” says Anthony. “I think they have the guards, they have shooting, they have defense. They have a new energy behind the new coach and a new system. It’s just going to be a matter of how they fit into that system, and how quickly they can pick that system up.”

While Anthony isn’t making any predictions on how far the Knicks will advance, he did make it clear there’s no “king” at the table for the Eastern Conference anymore.

“There’s no clear king on the throne anymore in the East,” says Anthony. “Everybody’s got a seat at the table, and now let’s go and let’s play. May the best man, may the best team win. It’s going to come down to who’s consistent on the daily, on a night-to-night basis. Team-wise, who’s consistent on a night-to-night basis? Injuries are always a big piece in everybody’s success. There will be no days off, no nights off in the Eastern Conference, and that’s what you want.”

When switching gears to talking about one of his best friends and former teammate, LeBron James, Anthony says the four-time MVP should end his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James will be entering his 23rd season and is due to be a free agent at the conclusion of the season. While Anthony is uncertain if LeBron will play elsewhere after this season, he’d prefer James hangs it up with L.A.

“I don’t know (what he will do), but he should end his years with the Lakers,” Anthony said. “You’re talking about somebody who wants to win championships, and he wants to be put into the right position to win it. It’s a lot of talk around him, surrounding him and surrounding the Lakers, like it is every single year. He’s just going to go out there and play.”

Anthony, who played until he was nearly 38 years old with the Lakers, says taking care of the body is the important thing for James at this stage of his career. James is currently dealing with a glute injury that has sidelined him early in camp.

“He’s going to be more focused on taking care of his body and making sure that he’s prepared throughout this long season,” Anthony said. “Him being 40, 41 years old, I think the body is the most important thing. The game is the game. When he’s ready to get out there, he’s going to get out there and give it his all. It’s a long season.

“The narrative of these conversations always is around this time of the year, and we follow that. We follow the ‘Bron train right throughout the course of the season. But he’s good. I think he’s good. He’s ready for the season. Most importantly for him is being healthy, so he can be out there helping Luka (Doncic) and everybody else.”

When asked if he has spoken to James recently, he says he has, but it hasn’t been about basketball.

“I have spoken to him, I haven’t spoken to him about basketball,” says Anthony of James. “It’s really hard to speak about basketball when the season is out and people are gearing back up. It’s hard to speak about it because people are just wanting to have that moment, that space and that clarity that they don’t want to think basketball until they have to think basketball.”