Free agent Carmelo Anthony insisted that he is determined to resurrect his NBA career after the disappointment of being released by the Houston Rockets.
In an interview with ESPN’s First Take, the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer said he hopes to land a spot on a team next season after a period of “reassessment” of his commitment to the sport.
“Silence is not my surrender,” Anthony pointed out, firm that he can still contribute at the highest level. “I know I can still play.”
A ten-time All-Star, Anthony was fired by the Rockets in January in a trade with the Chicago Bulls. He was later exonerated by the Bulls on February 1.
Anthony added that Houston’s decision had left him “emotionally vulnerable” and close to depression.
“I honestly felt like I got fired,” Anthony said. “I felt that (what) other people go through daily when they are fired.” “I felt like the game didn’t want me back at that point,” he added.
Anthony recalled that the news of his release from Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was also a surprise. “He walked in and basically said, ‘Look, your services are no longer needed.’ I thought, ‘What? Wait. What the hell are you talking about?’ … Are you telling me that I can’t do a nine, ten man rotation on this team? It was an ego hit. It was a stroke of pride.
Anthony joined the Rockets after spending the 2017-2018 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Before that, he spent six years with the New York Knicks after playing for the Denver Nuggets from 2003-2011.
Anthony, the all-time leading scorer for the United States national team and winner of three Olympic gold medals, averages 24.0 points and 6.5 rebounds during his career. AP