You know, it’s not easy being Carmelo Anthony. You’re a featured player on the top offense in the league, the Denver Nuggets. You’re defended nightly by the best wing defender the opponent can throw at you. You’re trying to deal with a delicate situation regarding how best to continue your career in a larger market, despite a definite attachment to the Denver team and area since being drafted there in 2003. And you’re constantly the focus of trade rumors being asked in nearly every media session.
So really, we should take a moment to applaud Melo for maintaining his focus on the floor. He’s consistently gone out and been the All-Star player he’s capable of being, and despite all the distraction, has helped lead the Nuggets to a comfortable position in the playoff seeding. It’s been particularly impressive how he hasn’t overreacted to any one particular loss or win, and has kept his head and perspective in regards to his relation with the team.
However, it turns out we don’t actually have to applaud Melo. He’s doing fine on that end all by himself.
Chris Tomasson of FanHouse reports this quote from after Nuggets practice Saturday:
”I take my hat off to myself for dealing with all this stuff that’s going on and still be able to go out and play at the high level.”
…
Seriously, Melo? Really? You take your hat off to yourself? You can say “I’m proud of how I’ve handled this situation” even. You can say “I’m glad it hasn’t caused us to lose our way in the playoff race.” But to actually tip your hat to yourself? That’s the kind of megalomaniacal comment we’re used to out of LeBron James, another CAA client and William Wesley confidante, not Anthony. Yet there it is.
All this despite the fact that all this “stuff going on”? It’s all the result of Anthony’s own trade request. He actually created this situation and is now giving himself credit, publicly, for how he’s handled it.
Now, the quote’s out of context. Maybe he’s joking. Entirely possible, and if so, that’s pretty funny. But even if he is just kidding around, it still belies the same concept. Melo speaks publicly of this situation as if he wasn’t the one to create it. Today’s NBA superstar wants to control his own career path? He’s absolutely entitled and nothing should be done to prevent that. but that doesn’t mean said players shouldn’t take responsibility for those decisions.
Melo also said he doesn’t think an average person can walk in his shoes. Because really, getting paid millions of dollars to express your athletic talent while trying to force your team into trading you where you want is a phenomenal burden.
This “stuff” gets more ridiculous every day.
