TEAM PLAYER: Carmelo Anthony is all smiles at Team USA camp in Las Vegas, even working with former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, with whom he had a contentious relationship in New York. (NBAE/Getty Images; EPA (inset))
LAS VEGAS — Carmelo Anthony and Mike D’Antoni have put the red, white and blue ahead of any discord that may have festered when the two shared the orange and blue in New York.
Anthony and the former Knicks coach had their reunion Thursday at the U.S Olympic team’s hotel before Team USA’s first meeting. They will see each other every day during this week-long training camp and across the next five weeks.
D’Antoni resigned as Knicks coach on March 14, hours after Anthony denied a Post report he preferred to be traded at the deadline unless he was assured there would be a new coach next season.
When he was asked about his relationship with Anthony, D’Antoni kept motioning his hand forward, with a nervous laugh.
“Today, I got to go forward,’’ D’Antoni said. “They go forward. Now I’m just a fan in Westchester and I could boo you guys. We’ve talked a couple of times. We’ll be talking every day.’’
Explaining his resignation, D’Antoni said: “I thought in my mind it was the right thing. I know it was the right thing for the team and that’s it. It’s not ever one reason. It wasn’t just that. A lot of things were going on. It was better for everybody. And it did work out for everybody.’’
Anthony said he and D’Antoni did not need to clear the air about anything. Anthony has been publicly steadfast in saying he and D’Antoni had a good relationship, but admitted he hadn’t spoken to his former coach since the resignation.
“We joked, we laughed and talked,’’ Anthony said after the U.S. Olympic Team practice yesterday. “I told you back then we were fine and I had nothing to do with it. As long as he knows and I know, everything else is irrelevant. He knows I had nothing to do with [his departure]. I know I had nothing to do with that. It’s a decision he and [Knicks owner James] Dolan came to and they made that decision.’’
Au contraire. Anthony had a lot to do with D’Antoni’s departure. On the day he resigned, D’Antoni pushed management to trade Anthony for the Nets’ Deron Williams because Anthony didn’t fit into his up-tempo, share-the-ball philosophy. Dolan, who broke up the team for Anthony, didn’t want to hear that.
D’Antoni wanted the offense to run through Jeremy Lin, who ignited the Knicks’ 8-1 run in February, when Anthony was out with an injury.
Once D’Antoni resigned, Anthony talked about a new focus on both ends of the court and played terrifically in March and April, though he had a so-so playoffs. D’Antoni said he took notice of Anthony’s late surge, but there was an edge to his remark.
“That’s what he does,’’ D’Antoni said. “He’s done it a lot of years. It didn’t surprise me. He had an unbelievable month, that’s for sure.’’
The Knicks will need more than a month of great play from Anthony for them to be contenders next season. Anthony took to interim coach Mike Woodson and lobbied for his return, and Woodson signed a 3-year contract extension over Memorial Day weekend.
D’Antoni said that was the right call, but one source close to the former coach said he was offended when Woodson immediately started talking about “accountability’’ after D’Antoni was out the door.
During the first Team USA practice Friday, Woodson attended to watch Anthony and center Tyson Chandler, the only 7-footer on the U.S. team. Woodson and D’Antoni hugged — a bit awkwardly — and chatted for several minutes.
“He deserved to come back and he did,’’ D’Antoni said. “It was the best thing for the continuity of the team. And Jason Kidd coming in, and if you can get [Iman] Shumpert back, things will be good, real good.’’
Perhaps D’Antoni would have been able to lure Steve Nash to New York, since the two are tight. But D’Antoni said he thinks Nash would have still headed to Los Angeles because he wanted to be close to his kids in Phoenix.
D’Antoni said he believes the Knicks made out fine with Kidd, who is 39.
“He will be a great leader,’’ D’Antoni said. “He’ll definitely be good whether Lin comes back or not. I’m assuming he would.’’
Asked how Kidd’s influence will help Anthony and the Knicks’ Big Three, D’Antoni said: “I don’t know how to answer that. I’m not going to answer. That’s for Woody to figure out. Anytime you add someone of his class and talent at his position it’s good. And they’ll figure it out. That’s what he does. He wins.’’
As first reported by The Post, D’Antoni will sit out next season, and watch his son finish his senior year at his Westchester County high school. D’Antoni said he also needs knee-replacement surgery in November.
D’Antoni, who in four seasons with the Knicks coached nearly 56 players, will be back in the mix next summer. Some league officials see D’Antoni as a future Lakers coaching candidate because Nash and Kobe Bryant adore him.
Now D’Antoni and Anthony are on tour together, first in Vegas, then to Washington before heading to Spain and then London for the Olympic Games.
“Maybe we’ll visit the Grand Canyon together,’’ D’Antoni said.