Carmelo Anthony Was Surprised He Was Released From Houston Rockets: I Didn’t Like How It Went Down

Carmelo Anthony Was Surprised He Was Released From Houston Rockets: I Didn’t Like How It Went Down

Former NBA player, Carmelo Anthony sat down with ESPN’s ‘First Take’ analyst, Stephen A. Smith to discuss the 10-time NBA All-Star’s short tenor with the Houston Rockets last season. Anthony, who has not played in a NBA game in almost nine months, said he was shocked when Rockets general manager, Daryl Morey informed him the team was releasing him after only playing 10 games in a Rockets uniform.

“I was surprised by it big time. It went from, ‘Oh, this is a piece we want, this is a piece we need.’ Mind you, we’ve been talking for three years, four years, they were trying to get me to come to the Houston Rockets, and I finally went there. I get there, I’m thinking everything is good. I’m doing everything I’ve got to do – never miss a practice, did all my work, I was real professional with everybody there. I don’t think there’s one person there who can say I wasn’t a professional there. I did what I had to do. I did my work.”

"I didn't like how that went down."

—Carmelo Anthony talks about getting released from the Rockets. pic.twitter.com/OxwyUBl2wd

— First Take (@FirstTake) August 2, 2019

Anthony continues explaining how he reached out to Rockets front office to negotiate ways to stay a part of the team.

“Then the 10th game came and I just didn’t understand where that came from. I actually reached out to Daryl first, and said, ‘Can we talk about how can we make this better? What can we do to fix this? What can I do to fix this?’ But he already had in his mind that he wanted to come talk to me about releasing me and letting me go, so I didn’t like how that went down.”

After accepting the disappointing news from Rockets front office, Anthony revealed how hurt he was to his  longtime friend and teammate Chris Paul. He also shared part of their conversation saying how he asked if Paul had anything to do with the situation or knew about it beforehand.

“I had a one-on-one, heart to heart with CP in my room at 1 o’clock in the morning. Looked him in his eye, he looked me in my eye and told me, ‘Yo, I would never do something like that to you.’ I take that. With me and him it goes deeper than basketball. So, for him to sit there and really feel the pain that I was going through at that moment, being very vulnerable at that moment, I honestly can say that I don’t think he knew anything about it.”

Carmelo tells @stephenasmith about his conversation with Chris Paul and James Harden after his time in Houston. (via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/tFes8csREc

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 2, 2019

As far as the face of the Rockets, NBA MVP candidate James Harden, Anthony says he never spoke with Harden.

“I never spoke to James about this, so I would never jump the gun, I would never make that assumption.”

As the NBA veteran approaches his first season as a unsigned free agent, Anthony says he misses the game while also sending a message he is willing to play any role for his chance to win his first NBA championship.

“I want to play and I want to go and win a championship, but I also want to play. I want to get back out there on the court. I miss the game. I was away from the game for damn near a whole season. I got the opportunity to step back and grow as a person, and I deserve another shot.”

He even revealed that he had contacted the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, although neither team seems to be in a position to sign him.

Would Carmelo Anthony play with LeBron James and the Lakers?

"1,000%…we talked about that since we were 18,19 years old"

Melo says he and his reps have reached out to the Lakers and Clippers among other teams pic.twitter.com/mDOEblZdZt

— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) August 2, 2019

Check out the full interview below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0m1PGEPiVE

Do you believe Carmelo Anthony will be signed before the NBA season starts? Let us know in the comments!