Carmelo Anthony already has claimed Knicks fans should not expect a championship this season.
But the playoffs are another matter. In fact, Anthony on Monday asserted his belief the Knicks “absolutely” will be back in the playoffs after missing out last season.
“Yeah, I think so for sure. Absolutely,” an impressively slimmed-down Anthony said of the Knicks’ playoff chances before entering a Midtown gym for a late morning-to-early afternoon workout with a group of NBA players.
Anthony snuffed an attempt to establish any goals for the revamped Knicks, who will enter their first full season under team president Phil Jackson and new coach Derek Fisher.
“I can’t wait to get started,” said Anthony, who missed the playoffs for the first time in his career when the Knicks stumbled to a 37-45 record last season. “No goals. Not setting any goals, but I just can’t wait to get it back on.”
And Anthony showed some of that desire Monday in the closed, high-caliber workout with assorted NBA players. One of the participants, who asked not to be named, said Anthony “clearly was the best player on the court. He didn’t take a lot of shots but he was very efficient. He looked like Melo. He looked like he had something to prove.”
The Knicks, of course, will have a decidedly new look. Among the departed are Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Jeremy Tyler. New faces include Samuel Dalembert, Jose Calderon, Travis Outlaw, Quincy Acy, Jason Smith, Shane Larkin and Cleanthony Early.
Of the moves, Anthony said, “I’m cool, I’m happy, but I don’t really want to get into details about that.”
And Anthony hasn’t quite had Boss Jackson on speed dial since signing his five-year, $124 million deal that kept him away from Chicago.
“I haven’t really talked to him since we took care of everything,” Anthony said.
Anyone who has seen Anthony, or pictures of him, must notice the slimmed-down frame. He looks muscular, toned, decidedly thinner. And like goals for the Knicks, Anthony did not give a definite number for his weight loss.
“I really don’t know how much I lost. I just know I trimmed down,” Anthony said, looking like a guy who hasn’t seen the bottom of a milkshake glass in two years. “I really didn’t do nothing special, just working hard, that’s it.”
This was really just a ploy to get back to playing small forward while avoiding the 4, right?
“Nah, it was just for me to try to challenge myself and see how far I could push myself,” Anthony said with a laugh and a shrug.
So Anthony served as hometown host at the Jordan Gym on Monday. The gang of 13 NBA types included his Knicks teammates J.R. Smith and Early, about-to-be-ex-mate Toure’ Murry (Utah-bound), Charlotte’s Lance Stephenson and Kemba Walker, Philadelphia’s Nerlens Noel, San Antonio rookie Kyle Anderson, Warrior and ex-Knick David Lee (although one sidewalk spectator loudly proclaimed, “That’s Kevin Love”) and free agents Chris Smith and Chris Douglas-Roberts.
For some, the session was prep work.
“Just working out, getting ready for the season,” J.R. Smith said.
“This is just inviting a bunch of guys that come out here in New York that are here to play, have fun, have a place to come and play some basketball. Some good basketball,” Anthony said.
The private club was closed to all but those invited, but some of the impressive vehicles attracted attention and drew a gaggle of onlookers. One Escalade livery cab pulled up with a very special delivery: a pair of sneakers — no human passenger — for one of the players.
One of the last to arrive was Stephenson, who pulled up as a passenger in a new Rolls-Royce and then blew past the only questioner just like a guy who, well, pulled up as a passenger in a new Rolls-Royce.