Carmelo Anthony doesn’t want his New York Knicks teammates to cause him any more pain than they already have.
Anthony, who underwent season-ending knee surgery Feb. 18, has been a no-show forĀ Knicks games since going under the knife, choosing not to sit on the bench with his non-injured teammates.
Marc Berman of the New York Post has a possible explanation for that:
“Coach Derek Fisher said he wasnāt sure of the reasons,” Berman wrote Thursday, “but a Knicks official later said it was due to the fear of a hustling player crashing into the bench where Anthony might be sitting. Anthonyās surgery took place six weeks ago. Itās unclear if he will be on the bench by the time the season ends April 15.”
Berman reported that Anthony stretches on the court and meets with team trainers on game days, but then leaves the arena before tipoff. Fisher said he hasn’t discussed the matter with his star player.
āYou can ask him that if you ever get a chance to talk to him or the medical staff,āā the Knicks coachĀ said, via the Post. āThereās been no discussion whether Carmelo would be sitting on the bench when heās recovering from a major knee surgery.āā
With the Knicks owning an abominableĀ 14-61 record this season, it sounds like ‘Melo has the right idea.
Thumbnail photo viaĀ Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images