Carmelo Anthony is finally getting the chance he wanted. After going unsigned for much of the year, Melo was signed by the injury-ridden Portland Trail Blazers, and he could see around 20 minutes in his first game with the team on Tuesday night.
While recent stints with the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t go well, it seems like Melo is coming to Portland with a different mindset after his time hanging in free agency limbo.
He opened up about his move to Portland, and his renewed focus to work in concert with the direction of the team — whatever role that means.
Unlike his last few NBA situations, there’s no doubt left now that Melo, 35, is no longer a star. How he adapts to a supporting role could be key for his career revival, and it’s worth bearing in mind that he’s only on a non-guaranteed contract with the Blazers — if this doesn’t work out, it could be over in a flash.
He’ll wear a new jersey number, No. 00, in Portland, since his traditional No. 7 is held out of respect for Brandon Roy and Damian Lillard wears No. 0.
Melo’s Instagram post about his new number reads like a galaxy brain, but hey, if it means less isolation, then whatever works will work, right?
