Carmelo Anthony

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony Plans To Rest During All-Star Weekend

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:02 a.m. ET

Fansided, Maxwell Ogden/FanSided via Daily Knicks

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony could replace the injured Kevin Love in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. Anthony would prefer to rest.

Carmelo Anthony has been an All-Star mainstay during his 14-year NBA career. The New York Knicks star is a nine-time honoree who appeared in the All-Star Game in every year from 2010 to 2016.

Thus, when Anthony was excluded from the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, many were surprised to see his streak of seven consecutive appearances come to an end.

One of the forwards who was chosen for the All-Star Game over Anthony was Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love. Unfortunately, Love has been battling knee soreness—an injury that could enable Anthony to appear in the All-Star Game as an injury replacement.

According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, Anthony would consider replacing Love in the All-Star Game, but would rather rest.

“I got plans,” Anthony said of taking the spot from Love, who is experiencing knee soreness and will sit Tuesday’s game for the Cavs. “I would love to take this break and just utilize this break and my body and my mind and just get away from everything. I could utilize this break. If they call me I’d consider it. But I would love to utilize this break.”

Anthony is focused on winning the games that actually count towards the Knicks’ pursuit of a postseason appearance.

The full list of forwards chosen ahead of Anthony featured a number of high-profile names. That includes starters Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, and LeBron James of the Cavaliers.

The reserves at forward are Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks, and Love.

All six forwards who were selected to play in the All-Star Game deserved the honor they received.

It could benefit Anthony to surround himself with an elite level of talent and build his confidence entering the final stretch of the season. One could also argue that it would behoove Anthony to utilize the All-Star Break as a time to rest his body and prepare for the postseason push.

Regardless of which side of the argument you land on, it’s likely that Anthony will be considered if Love is unavailable to play in the All-Star Game.

No matter what decision he comes to, the New York Knicks will need Carmelo Anthony to play like an All-Star if the the postseason is to become a realistic goal.