GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Carmelo Anthony had heard Phil Jackson’s pitch about all the things he can accomplish in the triangle offense.
Anthony was sold enough to spurn Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant, among others, and remain a Knick.
But Melo wanted to do a little more research on how he will fit into the triangle, so he spoke to Michael Jordan, Bryant and Scottie Pippen -- three of the game’s all-time best players and Jackson’s most prized pupils -- to find out the benefits -- and perhaps downsides -- of the vaunted triangle.
“The information that I’ve gotten, I’m just taking that in, sealing that into a bottle and applying that to my everyday game,” said Anthony, who also put calls in to other championship triangle players. “I’m excited about being in the triangle. I’m excited about coming [back] to the Knicks.”
“Overall, I’m excited, man, and I feel happy again,” Anthony added. “I feel at ease. I have a lot of clarity, and I’m in a good place.”
On the eve of training camp, a svelte Anthony let the world know at Knicks media day that he has completely bought into Jackson’s system. In fact, Tex Winter would have been impressed with how much Anthony sounded like a fully converted triangle disciple, despite having yet to play a single minute in the system.
Hopefully, Michael, Scottie and Kobe all told Melo he will need patience -- lots of it. Patience is a virtue that was required for Jordan and Bryant to adapt to the triangle.
Anthony might need more than those two ever required. Anthony has a great mindset and demeanor for a star of his caliber, but his patience will be tested.
Unlike Michael and Kobe, Anthony doesn’t have Jackson coaching him. He’s got a rookie coach who has yet to draw up his first regular-season play in Derek Fisher, who could very well be a good coach but will have to prove himself. Anthony will have to help Fisher adjust to coaching as much as Fisher will need to help Anthony adapt to the triangle.
Unlike Jordan and Bryant, Anthony doesn’t have an all-time great such as Pippen or Shaq riding shotgun on a championship-ready roster, complete with the likes of a Horace Grant, John Paxson, Glen Rice or Robert Horry.
Anthony has put his trust in Phil to find that other star to play alongside or, at the very least, two more important pieces to keep up with LeBron James and the Cavs. But the kind of reinforcements Anthony needs might not come until next summer, if at all.
How much is Anthony betting on Phil? He gave up a chance to potentially win now with Chicago or Houston.
“That right there really shows you it wasn’t all about just running and jumping ship and trying to get something in the immediate future,” Anthony said. “I’m willing to be patient. Now, how long [am] I willing to be patient? I can’t tell you that. But ... I’m willing to take risks. I’m willing to take that chance.”
Sure, a $124 million contract buys quite a bit of patience and certainly offsets a lot of risks. But give Anthony some credit for sticking it out and trying to finish what he came to do.
“From a basketball standpoint, maybe it wouldn’t have been maybe the greatest thing to do,” Anthony said of picking the Knicks over the Bulls, among others. “But for me, personally, I wouldn’t have felt right with myself knowing that I wanted to come here, I kind of forced my way to New York. And I have some unfinished business to take care of.”
Anthony is ready to prove the Knicks made a championship investment and he can be the next elite scorer to make sacrifices to his game to win under Jackson’s overall guidance. He wants to show he can make his teammates better and put a team on his back without having to score 62 points in a game.
"There’s a period of time in which it takes a scorer with mainly a scoring mentality to play with the idea that you can’t score every time you touch the ball," Jackson said. "A lot of the scorers, it’s a natural instinct: I get the ball, I look to score. Looking to score is one thing; holding the ball is another."
There will be nights when Melo will be frustrated, either with how he’s fitting into the triangle or how his teammates are. The Knicks are capable of making the playoffs this season, but Fisher and every Knick will go through growing pains.
And let’s not forget Phil is also learning on the job in his first time as a team president.
The great ones often run low on patience and tolerance for anything but winning. Melo had his fortitude tested with 45 losses the past season.
This season, his patience will be challenged in different ways. Then he will have to wait for significant help, however long that might be, while LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving only improve.
Anthony will see just how much patience Jim Dolan’s money can buy.
“I know it’s not going to happen overnight,” Anthony said. “But for me, my main thing is just to embrace the situation, embrace the new regime, the new system, and along the way we’re going to have some fun.”
“It takes time. Nothing happens overnight, but it will work,” Anthony said. “As long as I’m patient with that, then everything else is irrelevant.”