National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony Embracing The Pressure

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

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Carmelo Anthony understands that the New York Knicks will only succeed if he’s at his best in 2016-17. He’s embracing the pressure.

Phil Jackson has given New York Knicks fans something to be excited about. Starting with the selection of Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft and continuing with his offseason work in 2016, Jackson has built a roster with feasible postseason aspirations.

For as talented as the 2016-17 Knicks roster may be, the success and failure of this year’s squad begins and ends with Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony is entering the third season of a five-year contract worth upwards of $124 million. He was paid like a franchise player in 2014, and two years later, he’s preparing for a season that could define his tenure with the Knicks.

According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Anthony is embracing the burden of being the leader of this postseason-caliber team.

“Let’s just be quite frank, at the end of the day it’s going to take me being the best that I can be on the basketball court to make this successful alongside everybody doing their job and playing their role and being the best that they can be,” Anthony said. “I’ll figure the game out as the game comes and whatever that particular moment needs me to be.

“Some of the pressure is off of me. But at the end of the day, you guys know the pressure is definitely on me. So I accept that. I embrace it.”

He’ll need to.

Anthony has always been at his best when his back is against the wall. When he’s forced to play as well as possible by lackluster teammates who can’t carry their weight, he often goes into a mode that’s more conducive to individual success than team success.

When he’s forced to play as well as possible by quality teammates, however, Anthony excels at a level that few have ever reached.

Long regarded as an elite player, Anthony now has the talent around him to make a deep postseason run. That begins at point guard, where Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are vast improvements over the floor generals Anthony has played with since leaving Denver.

At shooting guard, Courtney Lee may be the first true 3-and-D player with whom Anthony has played since Arron Afflalo was consistent on both ends—also in Denver.

Down low, Kristaps Porzingis is entering his second season and Joakim Noah has something to prove. In 2015-16, Porzingis became the first rookie in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 75 3-point field goals made.

In a relatively recent 2013-14 season, Noah won Defensive Player of the Year and made the All-NBA First Team.

With defensive-minded wings Lance Thomas and Justin Holiday coming off the bench, New York goes eight quality players deep. For as gifted as this roster may be, it’s still on Anthony to step up and lead it to and through the postseason.

If Anthony fails to perform at a superstar-caliber level, New York may have another lost season on its hands.

Fortunately for Jeff Hornacek and company, Carmelo Anthony is ready for the greatest challenge of his NBA career.