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It didn’t take LeBron James to convince his 20-plus-year-old friend Carmelo Anthony to join him on the Los Angeles Lakers. Don’t dig into the details of playing time or the role. No selling off the field opportunities that LA offers.
Just a friend telling another friend that they would like to do something together.
“Bron just came to me once and said, ‘Yo, this is the time. I want you. We have to get there, “” Anthony said in his introductory press conference on Monday. “And I just feel like right now is the best time.
“Most people would say we should have reunited years ago at the start of our careers, but we were on two different paths, we were on two different paths. And it all comes together, I will say.”
James, the No.1 pick in the 2003 draft, and Anthony, No.3, entered the league together after being two of the country’s top prep prospects during their high school years when they got to know each other. on the AAU circuit.
It took them almost two decades to become league teammates, outside of the All-Star Games and the international USA Basketball competition.
And while Anthony, 37, will finally team up with James, 36, in what will be his sixth NBA team, in a squad that will also include veterans Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza and Marc Gasol, he has dismissed any concerns. regarding any aging. alignment practicing a sport governed by speed, strength and athleticism.
“We don’t care,” said Anthony. “We don’t care. We make our own story. …
“I like when people talk about age. It makes for a better story. I think it gives a better story. I think people forget that at the end of the day it’s about basketball. You’ve got to know how to play basketball. You’ve got to have that experience. I think that’s what we’re bringing to this stage and that time. Our talent, our skills, but also our experience. “
Anthony has yet to reach the NBA Finals, let alone win a championship, in 13 playoff appearances. The closest he had ever come was in 2009, losing to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in six games as a member of the Denver Nuggets.
“I come with a championship in mind,” said Anthony. “I think we all know that’s the only thing I miss, right? It’s the only thing that keeps me awake at night, it motivates me, because I don’t have it . I want that experience. “
Five years after that loss to the Lakers, the franchise has cleared space to try to convince Anthony to come to LA to play alongside Kobe Bryant. Seven years later, he will finally put on the purple and gold uniform.
“It seems throughout my career I’ve always been connected to the Lakers in one way or another. Whether it’s through my brother Kobe, whatever that is, j ‘ve always been connected to it in one way or another, “he said. “It wasn’t really a pitch this time. I think it was really more of an understanding. Like, ‘OK, the time has come. Now is the time for the two sides to merge, for the two to come together. parties agree to get together, and let’s put this thing together. ‘”
Anthony, No.10 on the league’s career goalscoring list, played well in a reserve role for the Portland Trail Blazers last season, averaging 13.4 points while shooting a best clip of 40. , 9% in career out of 3.
While there are no clear starters on next season’s Lakers squad other than James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, Anthony has said he will be ready for any role that is asked of him.
“I had to swallow that ego. I had to swallow that pride,” Anthony said. “But I also had to use that ego and that pride to keep me on my toes and motivated. And I accepted it. It went well in Portland. Again, it was there. first time doing it and experiencing it at that time it was fun it was basketball and I was still able to do my thing and play ball and have fun and to have love for the game again. “
LA introduced another forward on Monday, Kent Bazemore, who previously played for the Lakers in the 2013-14 season. Ironically, he wasn’t offered an extension in the summer of 2014 because the franchise wanted to keep the ceiling space open to make the maximum offer to Anthony. And now they’re back on the Lakers, together, joining the squad on the veterans’ minimum bids.
“We are the best basketball team,” Bazemore said. “This will be my message all year round, no matter what we are going through. So I look forward to it.”
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