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Carmelo rejuvenated in OKC: 'This is Melo being motivated'

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

Carmelo Anthony is relieved to have escaped from New York.

Though Anthony expressed gratitude to his hometown after being traded, missing the playoffs over the past three seasons and dealing with constant turmoil on the Knicks was clearly starting to wear on him.

Now a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 33-year-old sounds overjoyed with this latest chapter in his career.

"This is just me. This is Melo having fun again. This is Melo being motivated again. This is Melo having pieces around him who he can play off of and who they can play off of," Anthony told Michael Lee of The Vertical.

The only potential concern for Anthony is whether he'll find his offense around two other ball-dominant stars in Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Based on what he's seen in practice thus far, he isn't worried about a lack of shots.

"It will all come together. We see it in practice when Russ is with us. We see what the potential of what this team can be. It's lifted a burden off of me. And I'm pretty sure it's the same off of Paul and Russ. We talk about those things.

"We don't want to have to do it every single night, every single play, but we know we're going to have to bring our games every single night in order for us to be successful."

Landing in OKC to play with fellow stars was ultimately Anthony's choice since he wielded a no-trade clause. Having served as the undisputed top option for a Knicks team that went nowhere in recent years, he's happy to surrender the rock for a better opportunity to win.

"This is something that I've always wanted. At the end of the day, it's basketball for me. With basketball, you make adjustments."

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