The Return of Melo: Reviving in Portland
After being out of the league for one full year, Carmelo Anthony is experiencing a revival with the Portland Trail Blazers
Reviving after a demotion.
Carmelo Anthony experienced for the first time in his veteran NBA career; demotion.
Subsequent effects of demotion can include anxiety, depression; among other adverse effects. Initially, that wasn’t Melo’s problem. When you’re not doing what you love; the pain starts to pour all over you.
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A mournful feeling of pain that caused him to almost give up.
That’s what Melo felt when the Houston Rockets released him in November 2018. He virtually lost hope. Great things come to those who wait. For Carmelo, it was worth the wait.
He hasn’t laced up in a year. Has it been that long?
Several reports suggested that Anthony considered retirement. According to ESPN.com, Melo planned to take the retirement route if teams kept turning away. This comes after lasting only 10 games with the Rockets last season. In essence, Carmelo became a meritless option in Houston’s offense. Discerning exactly what happened is hard. Houston traded Melo to the Bulls, then he was waived on Feb. 1. Anthony remained unsigned before Portland offered its services.
Could you imagine not being signed? Or being able to lace up the kicks, and being away from your passion?
It takes a toll on you. Carmelo was castigated by critics, former teammates; essentially the entire league. Let’s understand something. Melo is a 10-time NBA All-Star. A perfect example of supreme continuity. Some even iterated the notion of him being ‘washed up.’ There’s no way possible. Melo, washed up? That’s asinine. He wasn’t washed up eight seasons ago with the Denver Nuggets. We have to look at the totality of it all.
Let’s go back to 2013.
Scoring title. Anthony, who averaged 28.7 points per game as a New York Knick, surpassed Kevin Durant‘s 28.1 average in 2013. However, Durant played in 14 more games than Melo that season; despite sitting out the season finale versus Milwaukee. Melo remained in New York for seven seasons before the escapade started. An escapade that sent him to Oklahoma City in 2017.
Anthony was traded to the Thunder in exchange for two other players, and a 2018 draft pick. He only stayed in the Great Plains for one season. Melo’s short stint with Oklahoma City ended in 2018 when the Thunder traded him to Atlanta. The Hawks offered Melo a contract buyout; which he accepted. He was then placed on waivers.
In August 2018, Melo signed a one-year deal worth $2.4 million with the Rockets, where he would be coached by former Knicks coach, Mike D’Antoni. That didn’t turn out too well. After only playing 10 games, Houston traded Anthony when Rockets general manager Daryl Morey announced they were ‘parting ways,’ but never released Anthony entirely. Melo was traded to the Bulls and was later waived.
It’s now a revival for Carmelo in Portland. A revival that’s sparked a lot of national attention. This past November, the Trail Blazers inked Melo to a one-year deal that’s non-guaranteed. Since then, he’s emerged as one of Portland’s top scorers. In his debut, Anthony scored 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block in just 20 minutes. Portland lost to New Orleans 115-104 on the road, but Anthony’s elation in terms of playing again; has shown in his game.
In a road victory against the Bulls, Melo finished with a season-high 25 points along with eight rebounds. Days after, he was named Western Conference Player of Week.
Call it revival city in Portland. Reviving problems encompasses self-reflection. Carmelo had a year to reflect on what happened. Reflection constitutes a new opportunity. Another chance to prove that he’s still ‘Melo.’
We all knew he wasn’t washed up. Carmelo Anthony revived himself.
Revitalization. Some of us have to go through it to become the greatest version of ourselves.
Demotion is gone. It’s revival city in Portland.