BOSTON — Carmelo Anthony said he’s not surprised his commitment to the Knicks has been questioned amid their franchise-worst 5-20 start, saying it “comes with the territory’’ and it wouldn’t be an issue if “we were winning.’’
Anthony, who in a last-minute change of heart suited up for the Knicks’ 101-95 victory over the Celtics despite left-knee soreness, responded to a Post report in which sources said if Knicks president Phil Jackson were to strike a deal with a team Anthony likes, he would consider waiving his no-trade clause rather than nixing the trade.
Anthony finished with 22 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
Anthony said Friday he doesn’t want to be traded — as The Post report had stated — but when asked specifically about the report, Anthony never referred to whether he would veto a Jackson trade.
“That’s what happens when you hit the wall of adversity and everything is a snowball effect,’’ Anthony said at Boston’s TD Garden. “It comes with the territory whether it’s fair or not. The cure to all of this is winning. That’s what we have to do is win some basketball games. I’ve been here before: losing some games and all types of things are written about me.’’
Anthony, who signed a five-year, $124 million contract this summer, is eligible to be traded beginning Dec. 15. He would receive a $17.5 million lump-sum bonus if he was traded on that date because he has a 15 percent trade kicker in the new deal. The trade kicker is a major deterrent to another team wanting to take on Anthony.
Yahoo Sports reported in mid-July Anthony took the extra money on the Knicks’ package and would worry about a possible change in scenery down the road.
Referring to his commitment to the Knicks being questioned, Anthony said: “When you lose games every day, it gets questioned. That’s the state we are [in] as a team and individuals. It comes with the territory. No need to defend myself. That’s going to prove nothing.’’
Does he want a trade?
“After the work I did to get back here, if I was to get up and want to leave, it makes me have a weak mind,” Anthony said. “I’ve never been a person try to run from any adversity. I’m not going to pick today to do that.
“If we were winning, we wouldn’t be sitting here talking about a story out there that says I want a trade.
It comes with the territory. We have to deal with it. I accept it.’’
The Knicks, on a 10-game losing streak, are on pace to have the worst record in team history and compete for the first seed in the draft lottery, several steps back from last season’s 37-45 finish.
“I didn’t have any expectations but be better than we were last year, make some improvements and strides to where we’re getting better for the future,’’ Anthony said.
He knew of the team’s low expectations from the fans and media but didn’t want to believe it.
“It’s hard for me as a competitor to accept that as a player,’’ Anthony said. “Despite whatever they’re saying about this season, it’s hard for me to believe or roll with that. I would never roll with that.
“This is not what I expected but we’re here now. There’s nothing we can do about the previous 24 games. No need to cry over what already happened, but fix it.”
Anthony said his sore left knee is hurting his bounce on the court. In the morning, coach Derek Fisher said it was “doubtful’’ Anthony would play and he wasn’t going to the shootaround. Anthony, however, decided to participate in the shootaround and decided before the game to play. Fisher said the shootaround “went well’’ but he’d keep Anthony’s stretches on the court lower than normal.
In the morning, Anthony, who missed the game at San Antonio on Wednesday, said he could be out a lengthy period if he doesn’t feel right.
“Right now, it’s day-by-day,’’ Anthony said. “I get out every day, see how it feels. If it gets to a point I just can’t do that, I’ll consider sitting out a week or two weeks. At this point, it’s matter of taking it day-by-day.’
He first revealed his left-knee issue in Milwaukee in mid-November, saying it began during the season’s second game. It appears to be a cartilage issue that may need surgery after the season, much like the knee issue J.R. Smith played through during the 2012-13 season.
“I could do pretty much everything,’’ Anthony said. “I don’t have the bounce, balance or power to have that quick first step and be able to go off one leg and balance and push off. Some days it’s very limited.’’