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“Not having a ring keeps me up at night”: Carmelo Anthony spills the beans on his championship expectations with the LA Lakers

Arjun Julka
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"Not having a ring keeps me up at night": Carmelo Anthony spills the beans on his championship expectations with the LA Lakers

While talking to Bill Oram, Carmelo Anthony spoke about how not winning a championship keeps him awake during the nights.

Addressed fondly as Melo by many, the former Knicks player is one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the NBA. Anthony was part of the 2003 draft, known as one of the greatest draft classes.

The former scoring champion had his prime years with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. Following which his career hit a slight bump, due to which he had to transition himself as more of a role player.

There is no doubt that with age and declining athleticism, many of the athletes need to accept secondary roles, which can be very hard for certain personalities.

A top-tier scorer during his time, the 10x All-Star almost averaged 25 PPG on a 45% shooting from the field during his first 15 seasons in the league.

Also read: “LeBron James just came up and said now is the time”: Carmelo Anthony reveals Lakers superstar’s simple recruiting pitch for the Knicks legend ahead of his 19th NBA season

During a conversation with Bill Oram of The Athletic, Melo got candid about how not winning a title makes his legacy feel incomplete.

Carmelo Anthony gets candid about his championship expectations in the upcoming 2021-22 season

Earlier this month, Anthony signed a 1-year deal with the LA Lakers. Thus joining forces with his co-passenger on the banana boat, LeBron James.

Anthony moved to the 10th spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list last season. The only thing missing from Melo’s Hall of Fame resume is a championship ring, something the superstar is very well aware of.

While speaking to Bill Oram of The Athletic, Anthony said, “I’m coming in with a championship on my mind. We all know this is the one thing that I’m missing. This is the one thing that keeps me up at night. It motivates me. I don’t have it. I want that experience.”

Also read: “LeBron James told me, we want you”: Former Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony talks about the inspiring words that LeBron told him upon his arrival in Laker Nation

The Lakers know they are adding Anthony in the twilight of his career. He celebrated his 37th birthday this spring. However, the superstar has shown us that he can be efficient even coming off the bench, something we experienced during his 2 seasons with the Trail Blazers.

About the author

Arjun Julka

Arjun Julka

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Arjun Julka is a NBA author at The SportsRush. Basketball isn’t just a sport for this 26-year-old, who hails from Mumbai. He began watching the sport after stumbling upon a court in his society, helping him identify an undiscovered passion for the game of hoops. Now an ardent fan, Arjun supports Stephen Curry and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint. When it comes to the GOAT debate, the TSR author feels LeBron James is yet to receive a lot of his due but cannot deny marveling at Michael Jordan’s resume.

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