New York Knicks president Phil Jackson recently told the media that he believes the team would be better off if they moved on from their star player, Carmelo Anthony. After months of speculation, this was the first concrete statement made by Jackson about the Knicks looking to move away from Melo.
While Carmelo’s lone response, to date, was apparently a post on his social media accounts there is another party looking out for the best interest of Melo. The NBPA and in particular Michele Roberts, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, didn’t like how Phil was able to freely talk about Melo but she believes if Melo did the same, the NBA would punish him in some way.
The NBPA released the following statement.
NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts released the following statement regarding the recent comments by Knicks President Phil Jackson on Carmelo Anthony:
NEW YORK, NY, April 15, 2017 — “We voiced with the Commissioner today our view on the inappropriate comments by Knicks President Phil Jackson. If players under contract cannot, under threat of league discipline, speak openly about their desire to be employed elsewhere, we expect management to adhere to the same standards. The door swings both ways when it comes to demonstrating loyalty and respect.”
While Michele Roberts point is valid, we have seen some players in the past publicly voice their desires to be traded. Some of the more recent instances came from players in past seasons looking to move away from their situations. Goran Dragic ripped the Phoenix Suns with minimal consequences, Jason Thompson asked to be moved away from the Kings and even Enes Kanter asked to be dealt away from the Utah Jazz. So players have made similar declarations in the past.
