Former Knick super-scorer Richie Guerin got a kick out of being in the headlines over the past week as Carmelo Anthony tied, then broke Guerin’s franchise record of 29 straight games scoring 20 points or more.
The record stood for 51 years, though it was obscure enough Guerin forgot he still had it until a couple of weeks ago. He figured Bernard King or Patrick Ewing had long-ago smashed it.
Anthony’s streak of scoring 20 points or more ended at 31 games last night when he scored just nine points in 27 minutes during the Knicks’ 120-81 rout of the Kings at the Garden.
Guerin, who turned 80 in May, is a South Florida snowbird who still watches the club from afar. And he likes what he sees in Anthony this season, a lot more than in the past.
“I didn’t think he was a very good team-type of player,’’ Guerin told The Post via phone from his West Palm Beach home. “I don’t say he was selfish, but it was the way he had played since he came into the league. … His mindset was basically looking for his shot. That was his No. 1 priority. He did everything he could to get a shot off.
“Now he’s passing up some shots he would be accused of forcing. He’s making plays with his teammates.Most of the time, he [takes] high-percentage shots — for him.
“I see a great improvement in his overall game this year in particular. He’s trying to play defense better, rebound the ball better. He’s still a primary offensive player and that’s OK. That’s what they need. His teammates buy into that.’’
Guerin, who lives in the summer in Westhampton Beach and is an avid golfer, is puzzled King or Ewing didn’t break the record first.
Ewing got to 28 straight games in 1990, King to 24 in 1985.
“After I realized I still had it, I was very proud of it,’’ Guerin said. “Until two weeks ago I didn’t know until my son mentioned to me they were referring to Carmelo coming close. I’m more surprised Patrick and Bernard didn’t do it.’’ but I wouldn’t say [Walt] Frazier. He sacrificed a lot of offense for the better part of the team. Frazier wasn’t built that way. King and Ewing were offensive players.’’
Guerin, who was with the Knicks from 1956-64, averaged 20.1 points per game. That 1961-62 season, when Guerin set the record, he averaged 29.5 points per game, a half-point better than Anthony’s current 29.0 scoring average.
Guerin realizes his scoring average, in particular, would have been larger had there been a 3-point shot in his era.
“My whole game was taking a set shot from outside the top of the key or side or driving to the basket,’’ Guerin said. “I was not a strong in-between [mid-range]. I was long-range or penetrator.’’
But Guerin is opposed to players going out of their way to take 3-pointers, with the step-back dribbles. He feels the current Knicks do too much of it (they lead the league in attempts and makes).
“I see players on a fastbreak 3 on 1 or 2 on 1 and they fan out and try to take a 3-pointer,’’ Guerin said. “You should do things in rhythm. I’m not second-guessing coaches, but if you take a pass and you’re open, shoot it. Don’t take a backwards dribble. You hear teams who take too many 3-pointers don’t win championships. Take the 3 if you do it in rhythm ,but a lot of times you don’t have rebounding position.’’
Can the Knicks win the title and break the 40-year curse? Guerin was on a lot of mediocre clubs and only made the playoffs one season – which is why Knicks management has not retired his No. 9 jersey.
“Obviously you got to get by the Heat,’’ Guerin said. “They beat the Heat twice. When [Iman] Shumpert and [Amar’e] Stoudemire have a few more games under their belt and their teammates get more comfortable with them on the court, they’ll be better but it looks like they’re adjusting nicely. They do have a good chance of winning the East but the West is tough. A lot of great teams there.’’