One of the biggest questions for the New York Knicks at the end of this season will be Carmelo Anthony's future with the team, but Knicks president Phil Jackson said it's the present that is burdening the Knicks star as he is "carrying a big load"
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Anthony, who may leave after this season through free agency, has put a lot of pressure on himself to try and will the Knicks into the postseason after they were hampered by a very slow start to the season which put coach Mike Woodson's future in just as much doubt as Anthony, though not by his own choice.
According to ESPN, Jackson said he's spoken with Anthony over the last two weeks and said that he's putting a lot of pressure on himself during the Knicks' rollercoaster season.
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"We've had a couple occasions to talk," Jackson said at the team's practice facility, according to ESPN. "We haven't really delved into the future as much as what's gone on, getting to know each other type of thing. Trying to see how he's feeling about playing."
He added: "He's had to carry a big load. It's been a tough year for him. But it's been a tough year for everyone. It's not just isolated with him. But I think he feels the weight of it a lot more on himself."
The Knicks (33-43) have been assessed by Jackson late this season and have gone on a tear, earning 12 wins in their last 15 contests to pull ahead of the Atlanta Hawks (32-42) for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot on percentage points.
Jackson wants Anthony, who will opt out of his contract for free agency at season's end but could make the most money by re-signing with the Knicks, to remain with the team after the season. He also said he'll attend every playoff game if the Knicks should make it.
Jackson, who said the Knicks will be a tough team once they get to the playoffs, praised Anthony as a leader.
"Carmelo's really stepped into another level of trying to help players," Jackson told ESPN. "I think that's one of the things that we see that Carmelo can do and that he's grown as he's gone along. Those are issues that are not only on the basketball court. They're off the basketball court, they're in practices, they're in the training room, in the locker room, where players learn to lead and push the team forward with their energy."
The team can only hope that Anthony still has that energy if they make the playoffs after a season of carrying the burden as team leader.
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