Carmelo Anthony has heard the criticism by his new team president regarding his penchant for holding on to the ball to long.
Two years ago during an appearance on HBO’s Real Sports, Phil Jackson ripped Anthony for forcing the ball movement to stop once the ball touches his hands.
“Carmelo has to be a better passer,” Jackson said. “And the ball can’t stop every time it hits his hands. They need to have someone come in that can kind of blend that group together.”
Friday, Anthony told the New York Post that at the time, “Jackson was just another guy with an opinion.”
“Maybe at that time, I was shooting the ball a little bit too much,” Anthony said. “I really don’t know what to say or how to respond to those comments. In the past I’ve heard Phil said some things about me. But I don’t take it personal. I don’t take it no way. At that point, he was just another guy who had an opinion.”
Now with Jackson having agreed to become the teams top executive, Anthony says that Jackson’s previous comments were no big deal, and he’s not taking them personally.
“If he’s coming on board, I’m pretty sure he’s going to want to sit down and talk. I’m hoping to sit down and just have a conversation,” Anthony said. “At the end of the day, it’s Phil Jackson, man. I’m pretty sure all you guys would want to have a one-on-one with him. I’m the same.”