Carmelo Anthony (7) (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
After laughing off a reporter’s query as to whether he’s willing to come off the bench for his new team, Carmelo Anthony said he had no problem sliding to the power forward position for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The team’s head coach, Billy Donovan, recently made it known that the 33-year-old superstar would indeed be filling in at the four position full-time.
“I have no problem with playing the four,” Anthony, who mostly suited up at small forward for much of his 14-year NBA career, told ESPN’s Royce Young. “I actually like that, I actually embrace that. And for this team, I think it will be better.”
Although he has never considered himself a typical “stretch four,” the 10-time NBA All-Star said he’s used to playing the position, citing his earlier years with the Denver Nuggets as an example.
“I’ve been playing the four almost all my career,” he added. “Even in Denver…we kinda started going playing that small ball, putting me at the four, picking up the pace. We kind of started that.”
The move comes as no shock to most fans, as the Thunder also managed to land superstar Paul George in the off season, who would likely take up the small forward slot.
Anthony’s strong physique would also help ease his transition better, as George was not really fond of playing the four during some stretches when he was with the Indiana Pacers.
Still, Anthony relishes the chance to play for a legitimate contender and credits today’s “position-less” basketball for allowing him to pair up with both George and Russell Westbrook.
“Now, it’s just whoever,” he said. “You have two-guards playing center now, guys 6-foot-5 playing center. So, it really doesn’t matter at what position it is, what spot out there, as long as you fill those spots.” Khristian Ibarrola /ra