Carmelo Anthony moving on from Knicks after 'getting stabbed in the back'

OKLAHOMA CITY - The first thing you notice is the smile. 

Carmelo Anthony was smiling. There was no turmoil, no agendas being leaked out through favored sources. Instead, Anthony was on the court laughing with Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, then welcoming New York media to his new place of work as he finished up preparations for Thursday’s season opener against the Knicks.

For Anthony, Oklahoma City is still a little bit odd, adjusting to the open space after his years in Manhattan. But the pressure of Madison Square Garden, the problems with Phil Jackson all seemed to have faded. Now, on a star-studded Thunder team he is at ease.

But a part of him still wonders how he got here, how his plan to run out his career in New York, competing for championships there, went wrong. He knows who was behind it all going sour, but why or how remains a mystery.

“This whole summer I always said that to myself,” Anthony said. “Where did it go wrong? What did I do? Honestly I asked myself that. I can’t pinpoint where did it go wrong.

“I can’t answer that question (why). I don’t know. I can’t pinpoint the exact time. I think we all know who. But I don’t know why? I don’t know why it went wrong.”

The odd thing about his falling out with Jackson was that when Anthony was a free agent in the summer of 2014 he was recruited heavily by a number of teams, embarking on a tour through Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles before Jackson flew out to L.A. and offered him the moon - more money than any other team could offer and a no-trade clause that Anthony wanted to ensure his place in New York. 

It wasn’t just the money and the security - and the supposed stability - that Anthony craved though. He put his faith in Jackson to lift the Knicks to another level, a year after the team had reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

“It was waves that I went through,” Anthony said. “I went from really believing in myself and what I was able to bring to New York when I first got there, us being a little bit successful, winning games, putting that team together, got to the second round. We were supposed to build off of that that next year, then it all crumbled. …

“I had no choice but to rely on myself. Then when we get Phil, I was like I can trust Phil. Let me trust Phil. I know his résumé. I know what he’s about. I know he wants to win. I was always I’m going to put my trust in Phil, I’m going to put my trust in Phil. That diminished after a while. I’m out here doing everything I can and I’m still getting stabbed in the back. I’m not trusting in that anymore. I’m trusting in these guys that are out here. Whoever’s out here, this is who I’m dealing with.”

While Jackson would drop occasional jabs at Anthony through his rare interviews, Anthony said that last year they spoke just twice - in Los Angeles in December when Jackson explained one of his public criticisms of him and then in a seven-minute long exit interview. It was in that exit interview that Anthony said Jackson finally spoke honestly about his desire to get rid of him.

“Phil was honest,” he said. “He was as honest as we were going to be at that point in time within the seven minutes that we met. He was honest. The way he said it, I understood it, I just wanted him to come to me and tell me that earlier rather than going to the media and saying it. And what he said it being taken in a whole different way because what he said to me was totally different than what he said to the media.”

In a blog post written by a long-time friend of Jackson in January there was a line, “The only sure thing is that Carmelo Anthony has outlived his usefulness in New York.”

Anthony believed that the story was being pushed by Jackson and at that time he finally said, "If they feel like my time in New York is over I guess that’s a conversation we should have.”

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Asked if he thought Jackson was ready to move him for any return, he laughed and said, “Oh, for sure, for sure. The deal was, I’m pretty sure if that trade clause wasn’t (there) I’d have been God knows where because he was just ready to move on at that point.

“I think with the Kyrie (Irving) thing really put a dent in my situation, because before that there was a couple deals that were supposed to be made. It was just a bunch of pieces, wasn’t a star for a star type of thing. So when the Kyrie thing happened so quickly and they got Isaiah (Thomas) back and (Jae) Crowder back, I’m pretty sure if I’m an exec I’m like, ‘Oh (shoot), hold up.’ You see what just happened right now so we’ve got to get something back in return. That’s something I respect about Scott. He was honest. Scott was very up front, very honest, he’s like, ’Look, I’m not giving you up for nothing. I’m just letting you know that. I respect you. I respect your game. I know what you bring to this game. I’m not giving you up for nothing.’”

But Anthony still resisted, with Jackson not speaking with him he didn’t waive his no-trade clause and when Jackson was fired right after the draft he believed he would be back. A few potential deals with Houston and Cleveland had not been completed and after Jackson was out and Scott Perry arrived as general manager he told his family that he was resigned to a return to New York.

“I always envisioned myself coming back even when I was being pushed out,” Anthony said. “I think for me, I knew what was going on behind closed doors, I knew the talk that was happening. I just wanted them to come to me direct and say look this is what we’re thinking and not have to read it or hear about it and then go to them and say, ‘What is this?’ If they felt that I just wanted them to be honest and direct.

“I think I was very honest and direct with them about wanting to be in New York, wanting to be on a winning team, wanting to have a good team. I was very honest with that. I just didn’t feel like they were honest with me. I had to read it. People had to send it to me for me to understand it and hear and then when I go to them (they say),’Oh no, it’s not that, it’s not that.’ I started to go to my own self. I’m focused on myself, focused on the guys on the team, I don’t want to talk about trades or none of that stuff. When you’re ready to talk to me about it, then you can come talk to me about it.”

Now, even if he cherishes his time in New York, he puts what he hopes will be an end to that chapter with the Knicks with the two facing off on opening night. 

“Yeah, I’m done with it,” he said. “I think that the first day I set foot here I was completely done with it. … I’m not out to prove anything. I’m out to win. at this point it’s about winning. The [people who wrote about me say things about me, they know what I can do they know what I’m capable of. They know my game. so know it’s about winning and putting my talents into a winning situation. I’m not out to prove anything. I like to win, I like to have fun but I’m not out to prove anything.

“It’s weird because everything happened so fast. The trade, me coming here. Even right now three weeks in, first regular season game with another team. So that chapter hasn't been officially closed if that makes sense. I think tomorrow really closes that chapter and really allows myself and allows the Knicks organization to move on. It kind of closes the chapter for both parties.”

Email: popper@northjersey.com