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Rockets: 3 positives of Carmelo Anthony potentially accepting a bench role

By Peyton Ingram
OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on from the bench during the game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on February 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on from the bench during the game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on February 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 24: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on from the bench during the game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on February 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 24: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on from the bench during the game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on February 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

No. 1: A career turnaround

Since it became apparent that Anthony’s tenure with the Thunder would be a bust, and that it was largely his own fault, public perception of his ability and value at this stage in his career has steeply declined.

Before this season, he was perceived as a vastly important piece to OKC’s “Big 3”, and now, he’s looked at by some as a guy that can’t get past his own ego to be able to contribute to a winning team.

Anthony likely doesn’t care much for the average fan’s perception of him, but if he wants to finish off his career as smooth and gracefully as possible, a bench role will put him in the perfect position to do that.

Former Rocket and current broadcaster Matt Bullard offered this to say on how a bench role could impact his career in Space City Scoop’s interview with him last week:

“If he is able to embrace that role, he could easily be Sixth Man of the Year. Wouldn’t that be a great accomplishment for everything he’s done in his career up to this point now to embrace a different role? I know James (Harden) and Chris (Paul) have been talking to him about that, saying that (they’re) gonna try to get (Anthony) Sixth Man of the Year, and that will be just another accolade to look back on when he’s an old man.”

Regardless of any accolades that he may take home this year, Anthony showing the flexibility to accept a lesser role, and the improvement in performance that would come with that would completely change the narrative of these later stages of his career.

Next: No. 2

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