There are many times in the past couple of years where I have looked at the New York Knicks and shake my head. There are also times where I watch Carmelo Anthony looking depressed, clearly asking himself “I should’ve gone to Chicago.”
Once upon a time before he was rocking “Jumpshot Jesus” T-shirts and was playing in the NBA Finals, J.R. Smith was a member of the Knicks. It was in New York when he was at peak hot & cold mode. His highs were sky high but his lows made everyone wince as the bricks kept coming. But then he got traded to the Cavs and life for J.R. Smith is all good.
But for some reason, he can’t help but look back at his former team and long-time teammate Carmelo Anthony and feel sorry for his fellow jumpshooter.
“I’m sure it’s difficult for him,” former Knick and current Cavalier J.R. Smith said Friday before prepping for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. “When he first got there, I’m sure he felt they were going to work toward something, which he did being the second team in the Eastern Conference at one point and then the drop-off.
“I’m sure it was disappointing for him. But he’s a soldier. I’m sure he’ll get through it.”
Now on the face of this next quote it seems simple but I can’t help but read this quote and think that it was the smallest of digs saying “thanks for trading me Phil”.
“At the time it bothered me a lot, but fortunately I’m in a situation to be able to go to back-to-back Finals. So I got over it pretty quickly,” Smith said.
That’s a great quote to leave on is it not? Beautiful.
Now as for Carmelo Anthony, I have 0 pity. He knew there was a better deal on the table and went for the Knicks. Every time this comes up I say the same thing. Chicago was there. He had options.
