Carmelo Anthony

“No matter what we gotta do, no matter how we gotta do it, no matter how hard it is to maintain this crown, we gotta do what we gotta do. And I think that’s the mentality coming into this season. Also, I think each individual player had to get better at something and get stronger in their weaknesses this offseason. If they did that, again, that’s the championship mindset.”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony discussed the championship mindset needed heading into the new season, emphasizing that each player had to improve their weaknesses during the offseason.

“So, nobody’s sneaking up on anybody anymore. That banner is going up there and the target goes on [the backs of the Knicks] instantly. Every team is going to circle the Knicks on the schedule, so that price of being champs in New York. You better embrace it and it’s going to be a fun ride.”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony warned that the target goes on the Knicks' backs instantly once the banner goes up, and urged them to embrace the price of being champs in New York.

“The beauty in that is the fact that we can have more fun with DraftKings because it’s in all 50 states now, which is major. I just love the fact that more people are involved, and more people can have fun with the game of basketball in this sense, and just sports in general. I love that.”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony highlighted that DraftKings is now available in all 50 states, allowing more people to have fun with basketball and sports in general.

“A game like tomorrow – opening night, ring night, banner night. Like right now, I’m preparing myself to get ready for the game like I’m about to go play,”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony told OutKick he was preparing himself for opening night at Madison Square Garden as if he were about to play.

“I was putting myself into those moments and kind of thinking from a mental standpoint like, ‘What would I do here? What play?’ I was playing those games in my head, and then after a while I was like, ‘No, Melo, what are you doing? Just be a fan,’”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony admitted he initially watched the Knicks' playoff run as if he were still a player, mentally simulating plays before deciding to just be a fan.

“I can imagine what will be going through those guys’ minds tomorrow, the adrenaline that will be pumping through them. Because winning one is a dream – we all dream of winning one. You don’t play this game without dreaming of winning a championship.”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony reflected on what the Knicks players would experience on ring night, noting that winning a championship is every player's dream.

“When you know you have the crown, you’re not going to let anybody knock that crown off,”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony said that when you have the crown, you will not let anybody knock it off.

“If they’re coming back like that, New York is the team to beat.”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony concluded that if the Knicks return with that championship mindset, New York is the team to beat.

“So, I started to turn that part of my brain off and operating that way. To be a fan of basketball and the New York Knicks and of the players that were out there representing. It’s a beautiful thing, because as a former player, I love those moments. I live for those moments. The tip-in was like – ah! That was a moment! Jalen Brunson’s three was a moment. So, I understand what the Garden feels like in those moments, but that moment right there was special.”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony described turning off his competitive mindset to enjoy being a fan, recalling key moments like the OG Anunoby tip-in and Jalen Brunson's three-pointer as special Garden moments.

“And I have to pinch myself, like, ‘Yo bro, you ain’t getting back out there. You’re good on this side.’ Just the fact that I can still be in tuned to the game of basketball like that, and more importantly, to moments and still feel what those moments actually feel like.”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony told OutKick he had to remind himself he was retired and would not be returning to the court.

“We got a great campaign, man. Myself, Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas. We really came together, and I got to give a shoutout to DraftKings and that creative team for putting that concept together,”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony praised the DraftKings campaign he worked on alongside Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas.

“Defending it is a job,”

Carmelo Anthony · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20

Anthony said defending an NBA title is a job, with every team now targeting the Knicks.