Carmelo Anthony. AP FILE PHOTO
NEW YORK, United States — Carmelo Anthony apologized Wednesday for suggesting a heckler ask New York Knicks owner James Dolan for a ticket refund during a game.
The Knicks were on their way to losing 104-85 to the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden and 4:15 remained in the fourth quarter when a frustrated Anthony had heard enough from the fan standing a few rows behind Dolan.
READ: NBA: Knicks slump again, Anthony surprised over Fisher axe | NBA: Anthony says he has no plans to leave the Knicks
“Look, the owner’s right there,” Anthony said. “Ask for your money back.”
At 25-37, the Knicks are seven games behind Indiana and Detroit for the last playoff sports in the Eastern Conference and appear condemned to a third consecutive losing season. They have won only one playoff series since 2000.
“We are all frustrated by the team’s recent results — everyone, including me, my teammates, coaches and the fans,” Anthony said Wednesday.
“Last night, a fan and I let those frustrations get the best of us. I should not have responded the way I did.”
Security guards encircled the heckling fan and eventually took him out of the arena area, but not until after he aroused Anthony’s ire.
“He kept calling my name, saying, ‘You guys suck, you guys suck,'” Anthony said Tuesday. “At that point, I was trying to gather myself, and I turned around. All I did was point at Dolan and told him, ‘Look, the owner’s right there. Ask for your money back.’ He’s calling me and telling me he’s never coming to another game and we suck. Just don’t want to hear that.”