NBA Rumors 2016: Carmelo Anthony Wants to Play in Rio to Know What 'Success Feels Like'
When Carmelo Anthony pledged his loyalty to the New York Knicks, it came with the hope that he one day will taste a championship with one of the proudest franchises in basketball; but after five years, the team isn't even close to making the playoffs. In order to at least have a preview of how success feels, the All-Star forward is trying hard to make it to the Rio Olympics as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team, where he has a much better chance of being part of a team that is expected to be on top, hoisting a championship trophy.
After the Knicks lost a squeaker to the Dallas Mavericks, 91-89 on Tuesday, he explained how important it was for him to go to Rio. "From a morale standpoint as a player, if you've been through the things I've been through the past couple of years, you want to feel what that success feels like," he told ESPN.
His statement best represents the sentiments of Knicks fans, who are also desperate to see progress from one of the most popular franchises in the NBA. Per Sports Illustrated report, Anthony will be returning to the Olympics for the fourth time. In his previous trips, he won a couple of gold medals and one bronze.
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Competing in Olympic basketball, where team USA is expected to win it all, should serve as a confidence and morale booster for someone who has grown accustomed to losing the moment he wore the Knicks uniform. Success has been rare for him and he's not getting any younger anymore.
His comments shouldn't be deemed detrimental to the team for the simple reason that they're true. After all, the Knicks organization seems to have gotten used to losing for the most part. Not even the entry of Phil Jackson saved them from embracing this kind of culture.
