Carmelo Anthony joined a Houston Rockets team that went 65-17 last season and made a trip to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals.
A ten-time NBA All Star, Anthony holds career career averages of 24 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and once played under current Houston Rockets coach, Mike D’Antoni when they were both employed as player and coach, respectfully under the New York Knicks.
“He’s in position where he can definitely play his game,” retired 15-year NBA All Star, Amare Stoudemire told me.
“You have a lot of guys there that are great iso players and he fits right in with that type of offense, but D’Antoni does like to move the ball. So we’ll see if he’ll be able to incorporate both styles.”
This offseason, the Rockets signed Clint Capela to an extension, re-signed Chris Paul and lost their key defensive cog in Trevor Ariza, who signed a one-year $15 million deal with the Phoenix Suns. Stoudemire likes the challenge for Melo and he knows his former Knicks teammate has something to prove. “He has a chance to change the paradigm of what the critics are thinking and saying,” he said.
“Because when they released Trevor Ariza, he was a great defensive player.”
At 34-years-old, many have questioned Anthony’s durability and productivity going into the 2018-19 season. After all, last season, the three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds with the Thunder; career lows. “You know, critics are going to have a lot of things to say,” said Stoudemire.
“But he has a chance to change that paradigm.”
