Melo: 'Only I know when it's best for me' to come off bench

Much was made of Carmelo Anthony's reluctance to move into a bench role during his lone season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Now, despite the fact he's technically without a job for the coming season - though the Houston Rockets are widely expected to reach an agreement with the 34-year-old forward in the near future - Anthony still is still refusing to budge on the bench debate.

"I know how to play this game of basketball," Anthony told The Undefeated's Jemele Hill. "I've been playing it for a long time. When I feel like I'm ready to take that role, then I'll take that role. Only I know when it's best for me to take that role. I'm not going to do that in a situation where I still know my capabilities and what I can do."

Anthony shot a career-low 40.4 percent from the field last season and dipped below 20 points per game for the first time in his 15-year career.

Related - Melo: Thunder 'wasn't a good fit'

He has never come off the bench since being drafted No. 3 overall in the vaunted 2003 draft - not in 1,054 regular-season games nor 72 postseason appearances split between the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Thunder.