Carmelo Anthony is following a recent trend started by LeBron James, slimming down, and by a lot. Melo was never the skinniest player in the league so the fact the he is losing some weight might be a good thing for the former scoring champion. Melo has a new offense coming into New York under head coach Derek Fisher but advised by team president Phil Jackson. Whenever you say Phil Jackson the thought immediately comes to mind of the Triangle Offense that the Zen Master has made famous during his coaching days with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Recently, Marc Berman of the New York Post talked to a close source to Melo and talked about Melo’s weightloss.
“He wants to be as athletic as he was when he was a rookie,’’ the confidant told The Post. “Plus he wants to be a facilitator in the triangle and speed will help that.’’
Anthony was listed at 230 pounds as a Denver rookie in 2003 and appears to be close to that goal. Last season, the 6-foot-8 Anthony was listed in the Knicks preseason media guide at 240, but likely played at least 5 to 10 pounds heavier as the season wore on.
Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris, a Long Island product, worked out three times with Anthony in June at the Terminal 23 gym Anthony owns in midtown. Harris noticed a major difference in his appearance. “He looked real good,’’ Harris told The Post recently.
According to a source, the Harris camp was told Anthony was working out three times a day, doing basketball drills, agility drills, weights and yoga.
With regard to his diet, Anthony has followed LeBron James’ lead in a mostly no-carb diet.
Melo leaving all this weight off will definitely help out the Knicks in the upcoming season. His post up game might get hurt, Melo liked to back down some players and hit a turn around jumper or a hard layup in the paint. Looking as skinny and sucked out as he does will mean he possibly has room to grow muscle and get bigger and stronger as well. The seven-time all-star is now going to take a LeBron approach and maybe facilitate the ball a little bit more to open scorers and shooters. As long as Melo gets his scoring in, and shares the ball, I don’t think any Knicks fan will be complaining.
