The dust still hasn’t settled from the firestorm ESPN caused when they blamed Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers downfall. According to them, Kobe is the reason many free agents would not sign with the team. Paul George already refuted that claim and now Carmelo Anthony is speaking out.
Anthony met with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Lakers before deciding to re-sign with the New York Knicks for five-years, $124 million.
Anthony told reporters on Sunday that his decision not to sign with the Lakers had nothing to do with Kobe. From ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Ohm Youngmisuk:
“Hell no. Of course not,” Anthony said. “If I thought that [playing for the Lakers] was the right situation for me from an overall perspective as far as having a team there, then I would have looked at that situation more in-depth. I just felt more comfortable staying here in New York. But as far as playing with him … I’m here now but I would always love to play with Kobe.”
When it comes to Carmelo Anthony I really don’t think Kobe Bryant had anything to do with his decision. It has long been reported that the Bulls and Knicks were his top two choices because the Bulls had the best roster and opportunity to win now and the Knicks could offer him the longest deal and most money.
Melo and Kobe have played together before. They won two gold medals together with Team USA, in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. There’s nothing to suggest they couldn’t have played together — the Lakers just didn’t offer the best fit of the options he had available.
