NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Learning To Become Vocal Leader For New York Knicks


To become a true legend in the NBA, you constantly need to keep improving. According to FanSided, Carmelo Anthony is learning to become a vocal leader for Team USA. His growth in that role should be quite beneficial for the New York Knicks next season, as they attempt to end their playoffs drought.

When it comes to scoring points, Carmelo Anthony is already a proven commodity. He has been among the top scorers in the NBA since coming into the league after winning an NCAA Championship with Syracuse University. Very few have dared to question his offensive prowess throughout the years.

One of the big complaints about Carmelo Anthony is the fact that he has never really been a vocal leader. In that regard, he won’t be mistaken for Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Those guys can routinely be seen barking orders at teammates, whether they’re on the court or on the sidelines.

Carmelo Anthony is actually at his best whenever he has a vocal leader by his side. His pairing with Chauncey Billups proved that. The Denver Nuggets were successful because Anthony was able to just focus on being an offensive juggernaut. Billups handled the majority of the leadership.

At 32 years of age, Carmelo Anthony is one of the senior members of Team USA. Guys like Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James decided to sit out this round of the Olympics. Anthony knew that the younger players needed someone to guide them to a gold medal, so he decided to step up into the role of vocal leader.

Knowing that Carmelo Anthony only has a couple of years left in the NBA, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson decided that the team needed to contend now. A slow rebuild would be a waste of Anthony and the gigantic contract that he signed. The Knicks were one of the busiest teams during the off season.

Derrick Rose [Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images]

Needing an upgrade at the point guard position, the New York Knicks traded for Derrick Rose, as reported by ESPN. Although injuries have robbed him of winning another NBA MVP award, Rose can still be a solid player. He can also help Carmelo Anthony when it comes to leadership.

In free agency, the New York Knicks signed Joakim Noah, as reported by Sports Illustrated. The veteran center has struggled the past couple of seasons, but he is widely regarded as a very vocal team leader. Noah is also an emotional and fiery player, so the Knicks are hoping he can fire up his teammates in ways that Carmelo Anthony does not.

With the trio of Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and Joakim Noah, recently signed New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek should have plenty of leadership on the court and on the bench.

Joakim Noah [Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images]

Leadership is something that the New York Knicks will definitely need if they want to build their future foundation pieces. After years of struggling to build a competitive roster, the Knicks now have some good young talent. Under contract with New York are Ron Baker, Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, and Marshall Plumlee.

One of the best ways of building confidence in younger players is by showing them what a winning environment is. If Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and Joakim Noah can show the new guys what it feels like to compete in the NBA Playoffs, then it might become contagious.

Last season, Carmelo Anthony turned some heads by showing that he is now willing to defer to teammates on offense. It showed that he wanted to improve as an NBA star. By learning to become a vocal leader, the commitment to improving continues.

[Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]

Share this article: NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Learning To Become Vocal Leader For New York Knicks
More from Inquisitr