National Basketball Association

Carmelo won't repeat LeBron's mistake

Published Jan. 18, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Before the toast there was the boast.

LeBron James told Carmelo Anthony, "If you want any chance against us in Miami, you'd better team up with Stoud in New York," according to an interview with Anthony published Tuesday by SI.com.

That exchange reportedly happened at Anthony’s New York wedding, before Chris Paul made a toast to Amar’e Stoudemire being joined on the Knicks by Paul and Anthony.

In the months that have followed that July wedding, many reports have surfaced about Anthony and his desire to be traded away from the Nuggets. Anthony does not sound sure about many things, but the Nuggets superstar is certain he does not want to handle things the way James did.

"I would never go about it the way LeBron did it,” Anthony told SI.com about James’ televised “Decision,” when he announced he would play for the Heat to form a Big Three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“If he could do it all over again, he wouldn't do it that way -- he would do it a totally different way, I can guarantee you that.”

In the long-ranging interview, Anthony was asked about his willingness to sign an extension with the Nets and his desire to play with the Knicks. He gave no concrete answers.

Anthony would not say if the Knicks were his top choice as every report has implied. But the problem remains that the Knicks do not have the assets to make a deal with Denver, while New Jersey reportedly has a deal in place with Denver and Detroit to bring Anthony to the Nets.

Anthony would not say if he would sign an extension with the Nets when asked by the website, but did talk about the burden of being the lone superstar on a team.

"There comes a time where maybe that burden gets too heavy. But that's not going to stop me from going out and doing what I'm doing ... everybody goes through it, especially the offensive players, the great players," he said.

Another factor in Anthony's thinking is the potential for an NBA lockout following this season, and the three-time All-Star believes it will happen "without a doubt."

"I've been sitting in meetings with the owners and seeing what is their problem with everything," he said. "I've been in several of the meetings to know what the problem is and what's going on. It's going to take some time to get the owners and the players on the same page."