Carmelo Anthony showed love to New York Knicks fans ahead of his return to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
"I always look forward to playing at the Garden, playing in front of the fans," Anthony said, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. "With the Knicks or against the Knicks. That love is different. That fan base is different for me. It goes deeper than basketball. They embrace me. I embrace them."
Anthony played for the Knicks from 2010-17 and still calls the Big Apple home during the offseason. Tuesday will mark his first game at the Garden as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
"I don't think the bond between myself and New York City will ever go anywhere," Anthony said. "That's why I embrace it the way I do. I'm looking forward to (Tuesday). The crowd - the Knicks are playing great basketball. They have good energy up there. We know how (Tom Thibodeau) teams are. They're a very tough team. We know we have to come in and put our hard hat on (Tuesday) night. It will be great to get a win at the Garden. I'll tell you that."
The Lakers will be without LeBron James for the contest as he serves a one-game suspension for his role in an altercation with the Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart.
