Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement from the NBA on Monday morning, bringing an official end to a 19-year career that also included a national championship in college and three Olympic gold medals.
Still, despite the accolades, Anthony carries a complicated legacy, particularly among a Knicks fanbase that appreciated the future Hall of Famer’s desire to come to New York, while also pointing out the team’s lack of success during his time in Gotham.
Asked to assess Anthony’s career, Tiki pointed to an NFL legend who also couldn’t find team success at its absolute pinnacle.
“He feels like Terrell Owens to me in a sense,” Tiki said. “Obviously one of the all-time greats. You don’t question his skill, but you ultimately question the winning.
“T.O. is a top two or three receiver in the history of the NFL. Carmelo is a top scorer, an all-timer in that regard. But the teams he was on always felt flawed. That’s not technically his fault, but in basketball, you do tend to look at the top player. If the top player on a good team isn’t helping that team win or get to a championship, you get a minus or an incomplete in that category…an incomplete that you can’t not associate with him.”
Owens reached a Super Bowl, playing through injury and coming up just short of a title, while Anthony’s Knicks never got out of the second round. Some argued it was because of a lack of talent around him, while others pointed to his own limitations, like the ball stagnating at times when it got in Anthony’s hands.
Regardless, Anthony was a winner in basketball, just not in the NBA. So, while acknowledging his greatness, BT says Anthony’s career doesn’t warrant a jersey retirement by the Knicks.
“He’s one of the all-time greatest scorers in the history of the NBA,” BT said. “He was a bucket.
“I would not retire his number. I certainly wouldn’t do it before Bernard King. I just don’t see it with Carmelo. I have great respect for his career, but I stop short of that organizational acknowledgement.”
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