Carmelo Anthony knew he had to make important change with New York Knicks, ‘I never played that style…’

Anthony changed his game to help his team win

During his Nuggets stint, Anthony played with multiple high-level point guards. That included his time alongside playmakers like Chauncey Billups and Andre Miller. He even played with Allen Iverson, who was a known scorer, but he was also a good playmaker.

Anthony learned well from those playmakers, but he prepared more as a scorer. He even took lessons from Michael Jordan that helped him improve. However, he realized that being a playmaker was also important.

When he joined the Knicks, he became a solid playmaker. During his seven seasons with the Knicks, he averaged 3.2 assists per game. They were the highest playmaking numbers he had during his career. It might not have been similar to James, but he was still a solid playmaker.

“It’s just a different look for me. It was an adjustment for me because in all the years that I’ve been in the NBA. I never played that style of basketball,” Anthony said on a 2012 episode of The Dan Patrick Show.

“To go from being the guy who creates for myself. To wait out there and hope and wish the ball comes to me. Knowing where my shots will come from, I had to take spots on the court.”

He kept working on his game as he matured

Like many other players, Anthony worked on his game as he grew older. His primary focus was still scoring points, but he learned how to play new roles. He became more of a role player after his stint with the Knicks. That was not an easy time, as he struggled to accept his role.

Thankfully, he extended his career by playing as a role player on the Portland Trail Blazers. He learned that he did not have to be a go-to scorer to play winning basketball. Unfortunately, Anthony retired without a championship.

Despite lacking a title, Anthony still has a rich legacy. He is one of the modern era’s best scorers, and he was always a dangerous offensive player. Anthony is a legend, as modern-day stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo saw him as an inspiration.