Ex-Knicks center Tyson Chandler feels sorry for Carmelo Anthony
Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler said he feels bad that his former New York Knicks teammate Carmelo Anthony is playing for a 5-22 team, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reports.
The Mavericks defeated Anthony's Knicks 107-87 on Tuesday night. It was New York's 11th loss in its last 12 games.
"I do because he's a competitor," Chandler said. "I laced them up and went to battle with him for the last three years and know what kind of competitor he is.
"I know he wants to win, and I know he's going to take a lot of this heat. And it's unfortunate because he's a hell of a player in our league. It's just unfortunate."
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Chandler went on to say unless the Knicks gets lucky in free agency or the draft that it could be a long process to change the team's culture.
Chandler played with Anthony with the Knicks for the last three seasons before heading back to Dallas in a trade this past offseason. Anthony could have left the team as well in free agency, but he chose to sign a five-year, $124 million deal to stay in New York.
Anthony has been bothered by back and knee injuries this season. He is averaging 23.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in first-year head coach Derek Fisher's triangle offense. The Knicks play the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
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Chandler, who was limited by injuries to 55 games last season with the Knicks, has returned to form with the Mavericks, the team he helped lead to a championship in 2011. He is averaging 10.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He had eight points and 14 rebounds on Tuesday after putting up 17 points and 25 rebounds when the two teams played in November.
The Mavericks improved to 18-8 with the win on Tuesday and play at the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
- Jack Jorgensen
