Friday night’s game against the Pistons was the third that Anthony has missed due to knee soreness. It was also the first time that Fisher acknowledged that Anthony may consider sitting out the remainer of the season.
“From the conversations I’ve been a part of, I think everybody is smart enough to realize, calendar wise, timing wise, that there may come a point that that’s the decision that needs to be made,” Fisher said. “But [we realize] that we can’t force Carmelo to that point just yet.”
Fisher was quick to add that any decision regarding Anthony’s future for the rest of the season would be a joint decision reached by the training staff, Anthony and himself.
“We can’t unilaterally just say, ‘Hey, you know, you can’t play for the rest of the season because of A, B and C,’” Fisher explained.
“I think our medical staff, our training staff, continue to have conversations with him about where he is. He’s conversing with us about how he’s feeling, what the symptoms are. And so as each day kind of unfolds, decisions are being made. It’s not something that we’re just kind of stepping back and saying, ‘Carmelo, you kind of tell us when you don’t feel like playing anymore.’”
Anthony has said previously that he’ll continue to play for as long as the pain allows, and that he doesn’t want to consider a surgicial option — he called it a “last resort” — until after the season. He is in the first year of a five-year, $124-million contract.
The Knicks are in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-30 record on the season, so there’s no compelling reason for Anthony to rush back before his knee is ready.
Source: ESPN NY
