OKLAHOMA CITY — Carmelo Anthony said he wouldn’t be surprised if 2016 free agent Kevin Durant stuck it out long-term in Oklahoma City.
Conveniently, Durant was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on Thursday night in Tulsa before Thunder brass, coaches, players, his parents and NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Perhaps in an indication he plans to stay with the Thunder, Durant closed his acceptance speech by saying, “Hopefully we’ll be here next year for Russell Westbrook’s induction.’’
Anthony was asked before Friday’s Knicks-Thunder game if his friend Durant enjoys Oklahoma City.
“C’mon, man, he just got into the Hall of Fame,’’ Anthony said at the shoot-around at Chesapeake Arena. “He brought this team here [from Seattle]. He didn’t bring this team here, but he’s a big part of Oklahoma as a whole, not just from a basketball standpoint but from an economic and business standpoint. He’s a major part of what goes on here.’’
Whether a player will get endorsements no longer is dictated by playing a large market such as New York. Durant, who missed Friday’s game because of a hamstring strain, seems to be in every other commercial despite playing in a smaller city.
“Nowadays with the way social media is, I don’t think you have to be in a major market to get those opportunities,’’ Anthony said. “The way our TV deal is, you’re seen all the over the world now. Not just in big markets.’’
Anthony recently has talked about legacies. Two weeks ago, he said Kobe Bryant should retire as a Laker and not play somewhere else next season. In training camp, Anthony gave several indications he wanted to be a Knick for a long while, saying: “I’m here to stay.’’
On Friday morning, Anthony joked, “I would love to be in a New York Hall of Fame someday.’’
Still, the speculation on Durant’s future will persist. The daily hype around Anthony’s free agency seemed to distract the Knicks as they suffered through a 37-45 record in 2013-14.
“I’ve been there,’’ Anthony said. “With him, as much as we say we’re trying not to think about it or worry about it, there comes a time we do have to think about those things. Maybe not when we come in the arena and on the court, but at home, at times, you think about it. I don’t think he’s thinking about it right now. It’s more for him to get healthy and back on the court and play basketball.’’
The Knicks figure to be in play, but adding Durant for a max deal could be redundant with Anthony and emerging 7-foot-3 star Kristaps Porzingis as their forwards. Porzingis would have to switch to center. Chasing a top-notch free-agent point guard such as Mike Conley of Memphis could make more sense.
The Wizards are a definite suitor as the franchise tries to lure Durant back near his hometown. Durant grew up just outside Washington in Seat Pleasant, Md.
“That’s home,’’ Anthony said. “If it’s a situation you can go and win, home is always a place you’d look at.’’
Anthony spent much of his childhood in Baltimore, but the lure of the Wizards wasn’t the same.
“I’m not [from] D.C.,’’ Anthony said. “In Baltimore, it’s a big difference. Baltimore guys cheer for a lot of different teams.’’
Durant, because of major foot problems, played just 27 games last season and missed his fifth straight game with his hamstring strain.
“He’s frustrated, but he can’t control what happened to the hamstring,’’ Anthony said. “I saw the play. It was a freak play. Those type of injuries you can’t prevent and control. He’ll be all right and come back. His basketball game isn’t going nowhere.’’
Durant certainly seemed indebted to Oklahoma on Thursday.
“I appreciate the love you show my family,’’ Durant said in his speech. “This is truly amazing. A kid from Maryland going into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Dreams really do come true.”