Carmelo Anthony gets blamed for lots of things that are not his fault. Just ask him if you do not believe me. One thing in particular he has been unfairly ridiculed for recently is Jeremy Lin leaving New York for the Houston Rockets.
Despite glossing Lin the Knicks' Rudy Rudiger in February, and then drowning out the tidal wave of enthusiasm for Linsanity by simply stepping back onto the court, Melo said he always has been a big supporter of Jeremy Lin. Still is too, even if supporting Jeremy now means getting behind his decision to leave.
This according to the New York Post over the weekend, from Carmelo on Lin (via Larry Brown Sports):
"Believe it or not, I was one of the true supporters of Jeremy Lin," Anthony said, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman. "Whether it was staying or going to Houston. That's not something I go out and brag and broadcast about. After he signed with Houston, I talked to him. He texted me, It was a great text. What he sent me meant a lot.
"Money talks, at the end of the day," Anthony said, per the Post. "Houston threw something out there that he couldn't refuse. The Knicks organization didn't feel like they had to match it. I'm proud of him, happy for him. Just to see where he came from, see where he started and ending up back in Houston the team that let him go and put us in a position to let us acquire him. He's back out there in a totally different situation and settlement. I wish him all the luck."
Melo termed the contract offer Lin received from the Rockets "ridiculous," though it wasn't clear if he was speaking about the entire 3-year $25.1 million deal, or just the "poison pill" third year worth nearly $15 million.
"It is what it is," Anthony said, per the New York Daily News. "Anything that happens in New York they blame me. I accept that. I don't really worry about it to be honest with you."
I kind of want to see that great text that Lin sent him. I also wonder if Melo texted him back. Usually you say: we exchanged texts, and it was great. Or, we spoke for a few minutes and had a great conversation.
Carmelo said: he texted me, it was a great text. I guess he probably responded, I suppose it is just funny to think maybe he did not.
It is also funny to hear Anthony call Lin's contract ridiculous. It is ridiculous really, he's right. But he is wrong about thinking anything bad that happens in New York is his fault though. Anything that goes wrong anywhere is Carmelo Anthony's fault, actually. Not just New York.
