Anthony wants to play in London and in the All-Star game…
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New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson has conceded that Carmelo Anthony is trying to avoid undergoing knee surgery as the soreness continues to be a problem.
Anthony has now missed multiple games with the issue despite the fact that is has been reported that the injury can’t get any worse if he plays through it.
However, with the Knicks now in rebuild mode and throwing the towel in on their season after the trade deal moving JR Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 30-year-old has been encouraged to shut it down for the season.
Anthony has struggled with the knee problem since the second game of the season but it is understood that he is adamant he will play in London next week as well as in the All-Star Game in New York on February 15.
Jackson revealed that surgery is the last resort for Melo, but with the Knicks having nothing to play for this season and seemingly ready to tank in order to obtain a high Draft pick, Anthony will be expected to call it quits eventually before the season is out.
“I think for Melo the last resort is surgery, as it should be for anybody,” Jackson told reporters.
“Surgery is basically to repair and to correct. He’s got a situation that could exacerbate, could get difficult, could be better with the surgery, but he wants to really try it again and see where he’s going to be at. The next period of time we’ll assess that and we’ll sit down and talk to him about it.
“I know the All-Star game (at Madison Square Garden) is important for him down the road in February. I know this trip to London (for the Knicks game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan .15) will be important for him to play. He sees possibilities of helping the team get back and be better.”
Jackson insisted on Saturday that the Knicks fans should blame him for their struggles this season, but his cause has certainly not been helped with Anthony struggling with injury as the franchise has fallen to a 5-35 record which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
