Carmelo Anthony Should Not Play In 2015 NBA All-Star Game

2015 NBA All-Star Game: Carmelo Anthony Should Reconsider Playing In The Game

With the New York Knicks playing their last game before the All-Star break Wednesday night, losing to the Orlando Magic, attention now turns solely to Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks star forward is dealing with a knee injury that has caused him to miss plenty of games this season, most recently knocking him out of a game against the Miami Heat Monday night and causing him to miss the game against the Magic. The question is not if anymore, but when Anthony will shut it down. The plan seems to be to make a decision after the All-Star Game, in which Anthony was voted in as a starter by the fans. But the shutdown should start immediately for Anthony to ensure that he is ready for next season.

Feb 11, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward

LaMarcus Aldridge

(12) and guard

Damian Lillard

(0) are presented All-Star jerseys from team owner Paul Allen (left) and general manager Neil Olshey (right) before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

This season has been a mitigated disaster for the Knicks, who have set franchise worst records throughout the season. They currently sit at 10-43, and with nothing to play for Anthony is considering shutting it down for the season and prepare for 2015-2016. The only thing keeping Anthony from doing so is the All-Star game being held this week. Anthony wants to play, using it as a recruiting pitch of sorts to try and lure other All-Star players to join him in New York next season. Just a couple names Anthony could try and persuade are LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Jimmy Butler and Paul Millsap. But does Anthony really have to play in the game to try and convince these players to join forces with him in New York?

What will playing alongside and against them in an exhibition mean in the long run? Anything Anthony has planned to try and show them that New York is the place for them will more than likely take place off the court. Sure talking during practice he may be able to get into their ears a little bit, but he can attend those practices without playing in the game. The All-Star game is more about the players enjoying themselves and having a good time than the game being a competitive one, so there is little keeping Anthony from interacting with his fellow NBA Superstars throughout the weekend if he plays or not.

Also, the shear fact that he is prepping to play in an exhibition game, at the expense of games that matter in the regular season is as dumb as it sounds. Multiple players have already pulled out of the game because of injury, and the fact that Anthony has not yet is weird. Those players are on team’s with different circumstances than the Knicks, but thinking is all backwards regardless of where the Knicks are in the standings; no player should be aiming to get healthy and participate in a game that means literally nothing. Anthony should take a cue from guys like Dwyane Wade and Anthony Davis, who are skipping the game to rest and take care of injuries instead of forcing things.

A rule should be implemented that if you are unable to play in your team’s regular season games leading up to the All-Star game, you are not allowed to participate. That will take out the back-and-forth a player like Anthony has to deal with, as he is obviously not very healthy right now.

Imagine if Anthony plays in the game and re-aggravates the knee injury that has been bothering him since November. It would be an utter embarrassment for the Knicks and Anthony if he is hobbling off the court at Madison Square Garden in an exhibition game. It is a worst case scenario, but definitely something that could happen as Anthony has looked more and more injured recently, having no lift while playing, which is evident from some of his shooting numbers in recent games.

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Anthony has said that the knee injury, which no one outside of him and his doctors know truly what is being dealt with, would keep him sidelined for about two months before he could get back to work if he opted for surgery. He also adds that playing on it cannot make it worse, but that is hard to imagine. If you are not getting reconstructive surgery done, there is always a chance you could make the injured area worse. Also, Anthony could hurt other parts of his body compensating for the knee injury he is dealing with.

Yes it would be nice for Anthony to be introduced in front of the hometown fans in his home arena, but it just isn’t worth it in the long run. Putting any amount of strain on an obviously ailing knee just isn’t a good idea. Knicks fans would much rather hear Anthony’s name being introduced in a starting lineup for a playoff series than an All-Star game and seeing him in a suit on the sidelines next season.

The rewards just do not add up to the risk here for Anthony playing any type of games before getting his knee fixed. He should focus on the future, get the knee fixed and make sure everything is good to go for next season when the Knicks will have a revamped roster and are contending for a playoff spot. The longer Anthony waits to go under the knife and fix his knee, the higher his chances of missing time next season increases. Playing in the All-Star game isn’t worth missing more games than necessary that mean something.

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