Melo on return following knee issues: 'I'm back ... I feel like myself again'
The new-look New York Knicks are going to need a healthy Carmelo Anthony if they want to erase the humiliating memories of last season and get back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
For his part, Anthony sounds confident his health has returned after February surgery addressed a patella injury in his left knee.
"I'm back. I'm there. I feel like myself again," 'Melo said Sunday at his youth basketball camp, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. "I feel like I felt before I even had the injury."
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While proclamations of perfect health are a common September refrain for players returning from injuries, Knicks fans can dare to dream. Anthony enjoyed two of his best - if not his absolute best - individual seasons in 2012-13 and 2013-14, taking home the scoring title in 2013 while finishing with averages of 27 points and eight rebounds in 2014, before his left knee limited him to just 40 games last season.
"Physically I feel great, mentally I feel great," the eight-time All-Star said. "I'm just ready to get out there and get this thing going. I've been waiting for this since February."
The Knicks, fresh off of a franchise-worst 17-65 campaign, added free agents Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Kevin Seraphin, Kyle O'Quinn, and Derrick Williams, while also drafting high-upside big man Kristaps Porzingis.
"I liked the moves that we made," Anthony said Sunday.
"Was it the stars that we wanted to go after and go get? No. But the pieces that we got, I'm really intrigued at what we did and where we can go with this team."
The Knicks will hold their annual media day on Monday, with their preseason schedule set to tip off on Oct. 7.