NBA

Larry Johnson: Free agency might distract Melo

It happened to LeBron James in Cleveland. It happened to Dwight Howard in Orlando, and then again, last season with the Lakers.

The impending free agencies of those superstars overshadowed entire seasons, seasons on teams with legitimate championship aspirations.

On Wednesday night in the Knicks’ season-opening game against the Bucks at the Garden, Carmelo Anthony began his fourth season in New York, the final season in which the All-Star forward is under contract.

Though Anthony recently vowed he would not be distracted by the rumors and inquiries and pressure, noting he was too “strong-minded,” former Knick, and current team staff member, Larry Johnson knows it can be overwhelming.

“I hope not, but it could be [a distraction],” Johnson told The Post Wednesday night at the Knicks’ “Blue Carpet” event held outside the Garden before the game. “I heard his comments the other day when he wanted to see what [free agency] is like. There’s nothing wrong with that.

“But I think he loves New York and I think he’s going to stay here.”

Anthony, who helped force the trade to his original hometown from Denver in 2011, said this month he doesn’t want to be anywhere else, and Johnson said he thinks it’s still the 29-year-old’s desire to win in a place that treats its champions better than anywhere else.

“You can never put anything above it,” Johnson said. “Listen to Michael Jordan, all of the greats. It’s not even just sports. Concerts, boxing matches, it doesn’t matter. It’s the Mecca, the entertainment capital of the year. When you win, you’re noticed all over the country, all over the world.

“Ask Jeremy Lin. If Jeremy would’ve done what he did in Milwaukee, he’d have been a good player, but it wouldn’t have been the same as here.”

Former Knicks guard John Starks lauded the team’s ability to surround Anthony with an improved supporting cast, including Metta World Peace and Andrea Bargnani, but Starks said Anthony ultimately must have another franchise season if the team has any chance to repeat, or surpass, last season’s success.

“He knows what he has to do,” Starks said. “He knows he has to be a leader on this team. He knows he has to put on a show every night.”

A show, Starks said, he believes the Knicks must, and ultimately will, keep in town.

“Players like him come along once,” Starks said. “When you’re able to get him, you try to hold onto him as long as you can.

“It’s a business decision, but he loves this whole atmosphere.

“I think he wants to be here, and he wants to continue to win here, especially if he’s on a team that can win a championship.”