Carmelo Anthony, in a speech to kids at his Queens College camp, made a revealing and ominous remark about his bid to win a title as a Knick and break the franchise’s 41-year drought.
“My window is closing,’’ Anthony told the campers. “I’m trying to bring a championship to New York ASAP.’’
The 29-year-old Anthony later said he was not referring to his window closing specifically as a Knick. He has an opt-out clause in his contract that he could exercise after this season, but said he has not given a moment’s thought to what he will do, despite reports the Lakers will make a bid for him and LeBron James in 2014.
“As far as ruling anything out, I haven’t thought about anything beyond today,’’ Anthony said. “My mind is not thinking about next offseason right now. I’m trying to do what I do this offseason, get right, work out, train and prepare myself for this season. When that time comes, I’ll deal with that. It’s not something I’m thinking about right now.’’
In fact, Anthony talked about how happy he is at the Garden, telling campers, “New York is the greatest city to play in the world.’’
Anthony arrived more than an hour late to the camp, saying his morning workout was extended. He claimed he’s in even better shape than he was one year ago when playing in the Olympics in London. Anthony’s Olympic training was viewed as a reason for his MVP-caliber season.
“I think I’m in better shape than at the Olympics,’’ Anthony said. “I’ve been doing what I’m supposed to be doing. At this point, I feel I’m in that [Team] USA shape right now.’’
Anthony said he will not work with Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston this month on post moves, as had been reported, but said his left shoulder is no longer an issue. He decided to treat the small tear in his labrum with rest and not undergo surgery. Anthony played through the injury during the Knicks’ second-round playoff loss to the Pacers.
“My shoulder is great,” Anthony said. “It feels good. My shoulder was torn, so you get hit on it, it hurt. I was surprised I was able to get through it the way I did. To feel the difference now from a couple of months ago, it’s night and day. The MRI [in June] showed it was healing back in place. The almighty man was with me.’’
Last week in Las Vegas, Anthony called the Nets’ blockbuster summer maneuvers — which included the addition of antagonist Kevin Garnett — “special.’’ But yesterday he didn’t want to dwell on whether the Knicks have fallen behind the Nets, Pacers and Bulls in the East.
“I can’t worry about that,’’ Anthony said. “The only thing I can worry about his my team. I can’t worry about other teams.’’
Anthony said he felt the Knicks’ acquisition of big man Andrea Bargnani from the Raptors was a beast of a trade.
“Absolutely, I thought it was a steal,’’ Anthony said. “I hate to lose [Steve] Novak and [Marcus] Camby, but when you get something like that in return, it’s a win-win situation. Hopefully Bargnani will come in here and prove something and be ready to rock.’’
The theory is the addition of fellow New Yorker, Metta World Peace, will help Anthony defensively and allow him to avoid guarding rugged power forwards such as the Pacers’ David West, who beat up Anthony in the playoffs.
“David West is — I don’t want to say his name right now — he’s one player,” Anthony said. “It’s hard to call him Metta, but to have him on our team brings more toughness, more defensive presence. He also can be a threat on the offensive end. You have to respect that.”
As much as Anthony was hurting against the Pacers, so was J.R. Smith, who may miss the season opener after undergoing knee surgery in mid-July.
“I’m not worried about that,” Anthony said. “From what I know and hear, it’s not that serious. I had the same kind of surgery.’’
* In conjunction with the Garden of Dreams Foundation and Make-A-Wish Foundation, 11-year-old Nicholas Perez was invited to the camp to pose for pictures with Anthony and to have lunch with him today at the camp. Perez is battling cancer.