National Basketball Association

Carmelo Anthony: Is He Prepared For The Upcoming Season?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony doesn’t crack under pressure. When the occasion calls for Anthony to produce numbers on the stat sheet, he delivers.

Throughout the last three seasons; Anthony hasn’t had the personnel assisting him like most champions of the past. Tony Parker had Tim Duncan, Stephen Curry had Klay Thompson, and LeBron James had Kyrie Irving.

These dynamic duo’s were integral to asserting dominance on the court to win a championship.

Will Anthony and Derrick Rose prove to be the dynamic duo that the Knicks are looking for?

Anthony must carry the torch; he realizes the Knicks franchise rests on his shoulders. Rose is an explosive scorer who will help space the floor. His incredible playmaking abilities can create scoring opportunities for Anthony, but will it be enough?

Brandon Jennings provides slashing capabilities off the bench, inducing a formidable spark as a scoring threat.

Anthony expressed his optimism to Al Iannazzone of Newsday.

“I don’t think there’s been this type of excitement surrounding our team since I’ve been here,” Carmelo Anthony said Monday inside a ballroom at the Ritz Carlton. “I haven’t felt like this in a long time.”

Knicks fans feel the same.

Anthony, 32, is in the best shape of his life after leading Team USA to an Olympic gold medal in Rio. Rose will be on the court, grinding hard during training camp when Jeff Hornacek holds his first practice.

Anthony is prepared to score relentlessly, if necessary, but he led the Knicks in assists during the 2015-16 season. He averaged a career-high 4.2 assists per game.

Should Carmelo Anthony utilize his passing capabilities to improve his teammates? Or is the score-first mentality the way to transform the Knicks into a playoff contender?