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Melo on return: 'This ain't a damn farewell tour'

Jeff Haynes / National Basketball Association / Getty

Carmelo Anthony doesn't view his current stint with the Portland Trail Blazers as the final chapter in his NBA career.

"This ain't a damn farewell tour," Anthony told The Athletic's Shams Charania. "My love for the game don't stop. I don't know where this 'farewell tour' thing came from. I've never talked about a farewell tour. I know what I can do and I believe in myself. When a farewell tour comes, it comes. That's not something I think about. I'm not thinking about retiring right now. I had during this past stretch over the summer but ain't no retiring in my mind. I believe in what I have left."

Whether Anthony - who turns 36 in May - remains with the Blazers or eventually moves to another team likely depends on what he can contribute. His contract is only fully guaranteed for the season if he's still on Portland's roster after Jan. 10.

The veteran had a throwback night of sorts on Monday, scoring 25 points on 50 percent shooting with four treys. It was by far the best of his four games in a Blazers uniform, as he came into the contest shooting 34 percent.

"It's been very validating returning to the floor," said Anthony, who hadn't suited up in an NBA game in over a year prior to last Thursday. "From the standpoint of to know the amount of talk being said about me, versus the amount of support that I had. I think the amount of support outweighs all the negativity and what was said. The frustrating part was someone coming up with a narrative, then everybody just piggybacking off of it."

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