Carmelo 'tired' of answering questions about Jackson, Knicks drama
If Carmelo Anthony has to answer another question about his future with the New York Knicks, his relationship with team president Phil Jackson, or anything of the sort, it will be far too soon.
"You get tired of it," Anthony said Wednesday - one day after his one-on-one meeting with Jackson - speaking to the recent media frenzy surrounding him and the Knicks, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.
"You get tired of it. I have to face you all every day. I'm the one that got to have all the answers. I'm the one that got to kind of make up something. Even when I don't want to talk to you all I still talk to you all. It happens. That's part of the job."
After numerous attempts to connect with Jackson, Anthony finally got the Zen Master to himself on Tuesday afternoon, with Jackson reportedly asking the nine-time All-Star whether he wants to remain in New York.
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"The conversation wasn't that long," Anthony said. "We didn't break bread. We didn't have an hour's conversation. It was a short conversation."
Adding to lingering issues between Anthony and Jackson was a piece from columnist Charlie Rosen implying the two parties needed to go their separate ways. Rosen has earned a reputation (deservedly or not) of being Jackson's filter down to the media, making it easy to assume his words echoed Anthony's boss.
"I don't need to hear it was him (Jackson) or it wasn't him. I didn't read the article to be honest with you. I saw the headlines. I knew what it was from that point on," Anthony added.
At the end of the day, Anthony holds all the power in the form of a no-trade clause in his contract. Even if the Knicks wanted to ship off the face of their franchise, they'd need his blessing ahead of time.
"I think, as players, you always want to protect yourself," Anthony said of his infamous clause. "I didn't think it would get to this point. I think, as a player, if you can get that (no-trade clause), you have a right to protect yourself and take care of yourself when it comes to that. It's very hard to get, very difficult to get. I have it and that's that.
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"I'm committed (to staying). I don't have to prove that to anybody. I don't think I have to keep saying that. I don't think I have to keep talking about that. I know for a fact that people see that."