NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Admits Joining Portland Was For Personal Reasons

When most teams practically turned their back on him, only the Portland Trail Blazers gave Carmelo Anthony a chance to prove himself. And so he did. The 35-year-old's basketball career was seemingly bombing out even though many vouched and believed Anthony still had what it takes to play NBA ball.

Most know the reason as to why some NBA teams were a bit apprehensive signing the 10-time NBA All-Star. A lot had to do with him wanting to hold the ball too long and focusing only on scoring. After carving out a name for himself with the Denver Nuggets, the 6-foot-8 forward never ticked with other teams. His most forgettable stint was with the Houston Rockets, a tenure that simply went haywire.

Having gone through all of those, it hardly comes as a surprise that Anthony reached the point where he was questioning himself as well. His confidence was no longer that high and Anthony needed a break to prove something to himself. And that opportunity came in the nick of time when the Blazers took him in.

Melo got into detail on joining Portland, saying that he needed the Blazers for other reasons. And while that would initially sound like he was "using" the Blazers to get back in the NBA, it was more about him being a professional basketball player, Blazers.com reported.

“I really needed Portland. As much as they needed me from a basketball standpoint, I needed Portland for other reasons. I always say ‘God don’t make no mistakes’ and this came at a pivotal time for me and I’m taking advantage of it,” Anthony said.

So far, Anthony has been doing what he is known for with the Blazers. He has played in 50 games where he is averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per Basketball-Reference.com. He is also playing 32.5 minutes per game, a sign that Stotts has put Anthony to good use.

Unfortunately, Portland is still trying to jockey for an NBA playoff spot. They are 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies and their run has come to a temporary halt. The NBA has suspended games for the meantime and there is no telling what will happen after the 30-day hiatus.

Looking ahead, it won't be surprising if Portland tries to keep Anthony for the next NBA season. That is unless the 3rd overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft wants to risk testing free agency once again.