The opening week of the NBA moves forward to Thursday when six teams are left to begin their season. One of those games has new Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony taking on his former team in the New York Knicks. Melo was traded from the Knicks late in the NBA offseason to the Thunder, as he waived his no-trade clause to make it happen. Melo commented on facing his former team, calling it a way for him to "close this chapter" in his career and begin a new one with Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

Backstabber

Melo had an enormous amount of drama surrounding him in New York last season, President phil jackson was constantly on the news throwing jabs at the all-pro forward and always bringing up the possibility of trading him.

There were many rumors around the trade deadline saying that Carmelo could be traded Melo knew he wasn't going anywhere that season, however, as he had a no-trade clause in his contract, which allows him to decide whether or not he wants to be traded. Anthony felt "stabbed in the back" by the Knicks front office, as he feels they weren't being honest with him throughout the season.

Melo explained that all he wanted was honesty, telling reporters, "I knew what was going on behind closed doors, I knew that talk was happening. I just wanted them to come to me directly and say 'Look, this is what we're thinking."

Anthony continued to play well, despite all of the rumors swirling around him. Once he and Phil Jackson met for their exit meeting, he finally knew what the Knicks wanted to do with him and his future.

Jackson was very public about Melo and his desire to trade, and Melo wanted to hear it from him rather than hearing from the media.

New beginnings

Melo is now a part of the OKC Thunder, and he is ready for this chapter of his career to begin. The Thunder have a legit shot at making the western conference finals, somewhere Anthony has been only once in his career.

Anthony missed the playoffs his last four seasons with the Knicks.

Melo explained how this game against the Knicks is closure for him saying "This is an important game for me because it's an opportunity for me to kind of go out there and kind of close that chapter.Me running out there on the court in a different uniform kind of closes that chapter."

Carmelo is a player who does well in isolation situations along with catch and shoot opportunities.

Learning to play with an MVP in Russell Westbrook an all-pro talent in Paul George will take some getting used to. He has always been the first scoring option on all of his teams. Melo would be at the highest the second option behind Westbrook, so not getting as many touches as he used to might throw him off initially. Anthony has enjoyed his time in New York, but a new chapter awaits him in OKC and he is ready to begin the next phase of his career.
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