Carmelo Anthony a mentor to Kristaps Porzingis

Carmelo Anthony believes he has several more years of playing at a high level, but he also sees his NBA mortality with the arrival and emergence of rookie Kristaps Porzingis.

The Knicks have been Anthony’s team since 2011. Porzingis is the future face of the franchise and the future is coming quickly. Anthony realizes it, and knows the importance of them building chemistry and growing together so he leaves the franchise in good in hands.

“I want to embrace it,” Anthony told Newsday. “I know what’s going to happen when I’m out of here. It’s his. If he continues to do what he has to do and continues to play the way everybody knows he can play and gets better and evolves, it’s his for the taking.”

Anthony, 31, is slowly changing the narrative that he’s all about Anthony.

The eight-time All-Star has been putting more trust in his teammates than maybe ever in his career. He said it’s because he’s “at peace” more than ever. But he knows he has skeptics and non-believers who still call him selfish.

“It bothers me,” he said, “but the guys around me every day, I don’t think will ever say that.”

Anthony, who has three years left on his deal, had the longest offseason of his life after undergoing left knee surgery in February. It gave Anthony plenty of time to ponder his life, career, legacy and role with the Knicks. He concluded he had to change some things.

“It started with me this offseason,” Anthony said. “Just being at peace with myself and the team and the situation and the organization and taking as it comes. It has a lot to do with me, kind of trusting me and just being at peace. I think once I found that peace everything else falls into place.”

Over the summer, after all the reports about Anthony being unhappy with the Knicks’ moves, he told his teammates he wanted them in Puerto Rico for his annual softball game to work out and scrimmage. He’s been doing it the last few years, but the most players attended this time.

“I usually tell a couple guys, ‘Come down if you ain’t doing nothing,’” Anthony said. “This year I wanted to make it more like, ‘We’re doing it.’”

Back in New York, Anthony, who hasn’t been considered a good leader, invited Porzingis to train with him at his gym, Terminal 23. Anthony wanted to help the Latvian big man but also knew it would help him in the long run.

“I knew that situation,” Anthony said. “A guy like, him fresh out of nowhere coming to New York, don’t really have nobody to talk to, don’t really have nobody to be able to try and figure everything out that comes with playing basketball in New York and being an athlete in New York, I just saw somebody I can embrace. I just wanted him to feel comfortable and confident.”

The Knicks are off to a better start than anyone expected and Porzingis’ play has been a big reason. But Anthony’s willingness to share not just the spotlight but the ball can’t be overlooked or understated.

Anthony scoffs at the perception that he doesn’t want to share attention and shots with Porzingis. That’s another narrative he’s hoping to change because Anthony, who has been out of the first round of the playoffs twice in his career, welcomes all the help he can get.

“Absolutely,” he said. “If you look back at my career my best years I’ve had supporting systems around me, other guys who can make plays for themselves and for everybody. I embrace the help. I always wanted the help.”

Porzingis is providing some of the help Anthony needs. But Anthony has been helping Porzingis more, and helping pave the way for the Knicks to be his team.
 
KG helps KP

Porzingis won’t forget being booed on draft night. But he said future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett gave him some advice when they crossed paths during Las Vegas Summer League.

“He came up to me in summer league and was like, ‘Use that as motivation. Just let that drive you every day when you step on the floor,’” Porzingis said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. I don’t really focus on it; that’s not the only thing that drives me. But it still sits inside of me, and I want to prove those fans wrong and prove that I can be a good player.”

Rebounds from Robin

Robin Lopez’s numbers (8.2 points, 6.6 rebounds) aren’t impressive, but without him, Porzingis’ rebounding stats probably wouldn’t be as good. Lopez boxes out his man and has no problem letting his teammates “go get the rebounds.”

“That’s why Robin was such a priority in the offseason,” head coach Derek Fisher said. “He does a lot of things that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet that help his team win.

“Robin basically takes care of his guy and it allows the guy next to him to clear rebounds, to go and make plays and go do other things. Kris is benefitting from that. Of course he does a lot of things himself, but Robin’s presence next to any big guy essentially is very helpful.”
 
Around the NBA

Amar’e Stoudemire is enrolling in college to study Contract Negotiations and Business Management. Perhaps Stoudemire, now with the Heat, wants to become an agent when his career ends, and he sees it coming. “I’m not sure how much time I have left in the game of basketball,” the ex-Knick said.

The Warriors went into the weekend 16-0, but acting coach Luke Walton’s record is 0-0. An NBA rule states that wins-and-losses go to the actual head coach. So Steve Kerr, who is recovering from spinal surgery, is 16-0. Walton said he and Kerr joke about it - he receives texts from Kerr after games that read "Thanks for another one."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Porzingis: “He’s so big. He’s so long and then you see him stepping out to the three like a guard, that’s unique.”