By now everyone knows the magical powers of Hoodie Melo, but Lance Thomas says there’s an even higher plateau Carmelo Anthony can reach when he’s called out by a teammate.
The Players’ Tribune posted a piece by former Knicks teammate Lance Thomas on Wednesday where the New York native thanked Anthony for his friendship and time with the Knicks. Both Thomas and Anthony are from New York, and Thomas said Melo was kind to him when he joined the team after a trade from Oklahoma City.
A Knicks fan growing up, Thomas said it was one of the “best days ever” when Anthony was acquired by the team. When they became teammates and their relationship grew into a friendship, Thomas said he tried to emulate Anthony’s best qualities on and off the court.
Thomas’ piece is touching and explores their friendship and his battle to become a regular in the NBA, but the best part is when he recalls a moment where a Knicks player challenges Anthony to a game of 1-on-1. Thomas says the team is in L.A. when the unnamed teammate calls Anthony out, and the two battle it out on the court the next day after practice.
“Come here and watch what I do to this boy,” Anthony says before they start playing.
You guys start playing, and from the jump you just put on a clinic. Like you’re pulling out all these unbelievable moves and making shots from wherever you want on the court. It was Hoodie Melo times 10. And the whole time, you had that same grin on your face.
I just stood there grinning too, looking on like a fan — and I am a fan.
At one point you look up at the guy and say, “You know what island you on?”
And he says, “What?”
“A lot of people die on this island right here,” you say. “I don’t think you wanted to come here!”
And then you laugh and shout, “This is Killigan’s Island!”
The rest of the piece is a touching story about leadership and friendship and what it means to play basketball in New York. But it’s also pretty great to debate which Knicks teammate decided to call Anthony out, only to get put in the blender over and over and over again. It sounds like Anthony will be missed by his Knicks teammates. Except, you know, maybe not that one.
