The Rockets traded Carmelo Anthony in January 2019, and it wasn’t until November 2019 that he played in another NBA game after signing with the Portland Trailblazers. Anthony was going through a rough time in his life, and one person that lent a helping hand was the late, great Kobe Bryant.
On The Uninterrupted’s “WRTS: After Party,” chat with Sue Bird, Maverick Carter, and Paul Rivera, Anthony revealed he was spiraling emotionally at the time, and he needed to build himself back up.
I hit rock bottom emotionally, and I had to build myself back up, basically by myself, to get here where I’m at today to be able to tell this story. So this season will always be one of the highlight chapters of any story that I’ll ever tell.”
The two players that Anthony reached out to during this time were LeBron James and Bryant.
I would have to say either Kobe… It’s not either… It’s Kobe and LeBron as far as being the smartest basketball minds, intellectuals, know everything about the game. Know everything about each player, the ins and outs. Those two guys are at the top when it comes to the mental part of this game. Chris Paul is definitely one of those guys. I would have to say those three.”
Anthony’s descent from being to a star player in New York to coming off the bench and being released after just nine in Houston was a tough pill to swallow for Anthony, and the year off allowed hi time to reflect and rebuild himself emotionally, spiritually and mentally.
Leading to having a year off. A year off, trying to rebuild myself — emotionally, mentally, spiritually… I don’t think nobody will understand what I went through emotionally to get through and to be where I’m at today. I’m talking about doubting myself. I’m talking about mentally, wanting to give up.”
Anthony’s time in Portland is special to him because it represents him overcoming the dark place that he been in and coming out the other side.
Flip the page to hear Anthony on the WRTS: After Party.