LAS VEGAS – Welcome back home, Carmelo!
On the 13th day of free agency, Brooklyn-born-and-raised Carmelo Anthony officially announced this morning he’s back with the Knicks in a touching message on his website thisismelo.com.
Anthony headlined the announcement, “My Heart, My City.”
Anthony praised Phil Jackson as “a champion who builds championship teams,” lauded the Knicks fans as “the greatest in the world” and said he wants to “build here with this city.”
“A few years ago I dreamed of coming back to New York City, the place of my birth and on February 23, 2011 that became a reality,” Melo wrote. “This organization has supported me and in return, I want to stay and build here with this city and my team.”
Melo added: “At this pivotal juncture of my career, I owed it to myself and family to explore all the options available to me. Through it all, my heart never wavered.”
Anthony thanked “the quality organizations” whom he met with, which included runner-up Chicago, Houston, Dallas and the Lakers.
“I will always remember this chapter of my life. In the end, I am a New York Knick at heart. I am looking forward to continuing my career in Orange and Blue and to work with Phil Jackson, a champion who builds championship teams. Madison Square Garden is the mecca of basketball and I am surrounded by the greatest fans in the world.”
Soon after, the Knicks made it official with their own announcement.
“After three months of questions around Carmelo Anthony’s return to the New York Knicks, we are now happy to know that we have the cornerstone of what we envision as a ‘team of excellence.'” Jackson said. “Steve Mills and I have assured Carmelo through our conversations, that we share the vision and the determination to build this team.”
“I have had the opportunity to be around some of the greatest players in our game, and now I have the honor of coaching Carmelo,” Head Coach Derek Fisher said. “This is an exciting time for the New York Knicks franchise and our fans. I look forward to working with him and building something special together.”