It started when he woke up Friday morning and noticed he felt different: He felt confident, focused, determined. From the morning shoot-around to his arrival at the Garden for Friday night’s game against the Bobcats, “Everything felt good,” Carmelo Anthony said.
And he then heard the words of Muhammad Ali, part of an inspirational video a member of the Knicks staff put together, viewed by the team before the game. Anthony is a big enough Ali fan that images of the heavyweight boxing legend are tattooed on his skin. Anything Ali says resonates deep within Anthony.
“They said I had an Ali mindset tonight,” Anthony said of his teammates. “It was special for them to say that.”
It was a special night all around. Inspired by Ali’s words, Anthony put on a historical performance that for the moment removes the sour taste of the Knicks’ disappointing season. Playing with passion and determination Friday, Anthony poured through a career-high and Knicks and Garden record 62 points to lead the Knicks to a 125-96 pounding of the Bobcats.
“It was jaw-dropping,” forward Iman Shumpert said. “We didn’t know what to do, just get your popcorn and watch.”
Before the game, Anthony was so intense, a few of his teammates asked if there were something wrong. There was a lot wrong: Like a five-game losing streak, three straight losses to begin an eight-game homestand and all the talk about the Knicks starting to turn on coach Mike Woodson. There was also talk of whether the Knicks would be better off without Anthony’s huge contract.
Amid the growing adversity, Anthony found inspiration in the words of Ali.
“It was one of his speeches about greatness,” center Tyson Chandler said. “He said, ‘I’m going to show you that I’m great.’ Everybody was against him. Obviously, Melo took it to heart.”
Anthony took it to heart and to the court.
“Hearing the words of Muhammad and then getting out there making those first couple shots, I felt like it was going to be a good night,” Anthony said.
It was an historic night. Anthony had 20 points in the first quarter and 37 at halftime, punctuated by a running half-court swish at the buzzer. By the time he had 46 in the third quarter, the crowd began chanting, “Mel-o, Mel-o.” He reached 51 on a running fast-break layup and finished the third quarter with 56 as the Knicks led 101-66.
The Bobcats were no match. Anthony broke Kobe Bryant’s Garden record of 61 when he slipped past a double team and banked a short jumper off the glass. With 7:18 remaining, he left the game with 62 points on 23 of 35 shooting, breaking Bernard King’s franchise record of 60. Anthony also had 13 rebounds.
Chants of “MVP … MVP” floated from the rafters as Anthony saluted a standing ovation. His teammates marveled at his performance. At one point, Shumpert refused Woodson’s instruction to go into the game to replace Anthony. The Knicks unselfishly fed him the ball on nearly every possession.
“It was like playing a video game,” Shumpert said. “Just give it one guy and let him keep shooting.”
Anthony said he was in the kind of zone only a few players experience. “There is no better feeling than having that feeling on your home court,” Anthony said. “The fans, I haven’t heard them like that since last year.”
This could be the highlight of what has been a frustrating season for Anthony. It could be the highlight of a Knicks career that might end if he chooses to opt out of his contract and sign with another team.
But all the frustration and talk of the future was put aside for one special night at the Garden thanks to Anthony and Ali.