Carmelo Anthony’s critical comments on the Rockets will hurt his future in the NBA

Carmelo Anthony did a tell all interview with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take, bashing the Rockets amongst his other former employers. But did he further jeopardize his opportunities of a return to the league?

Maybe it’s just me, but as I watched Carmelo Anthony on First Take with Stephen A. Smith, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that Carmelo isn’t helping himself this off-season. I personally think it’s always a bad idea for an unemployed player to go on a “media tour” and try to explain themselves and reverse the narrative. On top of that, Melo’s camp has been going public about him wanting a farewell tour this upcoming season, which he admitted was against his wishes. It begs to question how Melo is handling his business affairs. During the interview with Stephen A, Melo mentioned that he was blindsided by the Rockets’ decision to part ways.

Personally I like Carmelo and actually sympathize with what he was saying, especially if it’s true how he was notified that his time with the team was done by Daryl Morey and the Rockets. But Melo admittedly is trying to get back in the league and get a spot on a roster, and speaking out against your last team about how you were done wrong isn’t necessarily going to help the cause.

Personally I almost feel like Melo choosing to go public to defend himself about how he’s been slandered and misunderstood isn’t likely to endear himself to other teams. Maybe it’s true that he’s gotten a bad rap over the years, but there’s likely a reason for that. Furthermore, why does he need to publicly express that he’s gotten a bad rap? If it’s true, people know that already, whether he says it or not.

Hearing him speak out about how the luxury tax played a part in things not working out between him and the Oklahoma City Thunder I felt was a bad look for him. Sure, he could be telling the truth, but I just thought this was another example of a bad PR move.

He stated the Thunder came to him suddenly after the season ended regarding him taking a pay cut and/or taking a role reduction for the sake of the team. Yet he also said he wanted the team to be direct and straightforward with him regarding their expectations, as if to say they went about things the wrong way. But Melo went further and actually said that directly. He said he felt the situation wasn’t handled right and that he felt it was really a one and done, which a veteran like Melo would have to know better than to say on national tv.

For starters, it’s not like Melo has a list of teams lined up for his services, but I’m sure the few options Melo did have are now worried about how Melo will take things if they don’t go over well. Will Melo go public to defend himself in the event that things don’t work out like he did with the Rockets in this interview?

Part of me feels like Anthony should get a pass, as he’s never done such an interview in his 16 years in the league, but I feel like at this point in his career he should surely know better. The only explanation for Melo to make such a move would be that Melo has come around to the fact that his days in the league are over and done with. However that doesn’t align with his other statements about how he deserves a spot on an NBA roster and knows he still can play.

I personally think Melo’s decision to bash the Rockets and his other former teams actually will have hurt his cause of getting back in the league.