New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony denied reports that he decided to turn down the offer from the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the offseason because of Kobe Bryant.
Anthony reportedly received a maximum four-year deal from the Lakers during the free agency period, but he decided to turn it down and accept the five-year, $124 million offer from the New York Knicks.
An ESPN The Magazine article recently pointed out that big-name free agents have been snubbing the Lakers because most of them are not interested in playing alongside Bryant.
When asked about the ESPN The Magazine report, Anthony denied that he is one of those players who are not interested in playing with Bryant, reiterating that he would love to play with the Lakers superstar, but he felt that returning to the Knicks was the best choice.
"Hell no. Of course not," Anthony said of reports saying that Bryant played a role in his decision to turn down the Lakers' offe via ESPN New York. "If I thought that was the right situation for me from an overall perspective as far as having a team there, then I would have looked at that situation more in-depth. I just felt more comfortable staying here in New York. But as far as playing with him, I'm here now but I would always love to play with Kobe."
Bryant was not present during the meeting between Anthony and the Lakers in July after the superstar failed to make it in time from his European trip.
Anthony said, though, that Bryant, whom he considers as one of his closest friends in the league, called him several times during the offseason, but he said that the 16-time All-Star was very professional, pointing out that he never felt Bryant was pressuring him to sign with the Lakers.
"He wasn't calling me every day and like, 'Get over here! I want you here!' We had conversations about different situations whether it was in New York or in L.A., but it wasn't to the point where it was non-stop calling or texting or stuff like that," Anthony said.
First-year Knicks coach Derek Fisher also defended Bryant from his critics, saying that the he had a very good relationship with the 18-year veteran despite the latter's strong personality.
"He's smart enough to realize that all people are not created that way and sometimes it doesn't make for the team being as successful as it can be," Fisher said. "He and I have always been cool because we saw it the same way. We have different personalities, different leadership styles, but that's what made us a great combination."
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