Carmelo Anthony: 'I'm not Chris Bosh'
It has become the season to pick on Chris Bosh(notes), apparently.
Sure, Chris doesn't make it any easier on himself by looking like the third wheel in the LeBron James(notes)/Dwyane Wade triptych, or by complaining about how his building in Canada wasn't equipped to receive NBA League Pass, or with a rebound rate (the percentage of all available rebounds you pull in) that rivals that of the ancient Grant Hill's(notes) this season ... but this statement from Carmelo Anthony(notes) seems a little low.
And a little accurate.
In speaking (on record!) with Peter Vecsey of the New York Post recently, Anthony wants you to know that he will not be emulating Bosh's final few months with the Toronto Raptors:
The lines of communication already had been connected almost immediately after the exaggerated trade report surfaced. Ever since the "news" hit the doorstep, [personnel bosses Josh] Kroenke and [Masai] Ujiri have sought out Anthony for opinions on team matters, just as he's gone to them with suggestions.
Both sides now know exactly what must be done. He wants to see the team improved within the next three months, or shown a plausible plan to get better this summer. He promises not to leave his team hanging.
"I'm not Chris Bosh," Anthony declared. "We're not the same person. What I do will be straight up. Management knows that."
Ouch. And you can't blame him for that. While speaking candidly about trying to find a reasonable end to this semi-trade demand may possibly net Anthony a fine, he is being honest about giving the Nuggets a few months to get their affairs in order while working with them (should he decide to leave) in an open and up-front manner.
[Photos: Carmelo Anthony on the court]
Instead of, as Bosh did, deciding to break it to Raptors fans and employees alike that he was gonzo, via Twitter, on an early Friday evening during the first round of the playoffs.
Of course, elsewhere in the piece, Anthony does say this:
"I'm just like LeBron," Anthony emphasized in the Nuggets' locker room following Saturday's practice. "It's all about winning. That's all I care about. I want the chance to compete at the championship level. All the other stuff is irrelevant."
OK, maybe not just like LeBron, right? Not as good. But on the flip side, there are a lot of things you don't want to do that are just like LeBron. OK, Carmelo?
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