Carmelo Anthony was named to his ninth NBA All-Star team on Thursday, which is pretty cool.
That he’s grabbed this many All-Star selections without ever making an NBA Finals appearance is not.
At the same time, the company he joins is pretty damn esteemed, per ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:
Melo now tied with Gervin & Nique for most All-Star selections (nine) without NBA Finals appearance. CP3 joins 'em if picked by West coaches
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 22, 2016
First off, it’s crazy to think George Gervin never made an NBA Finals cameo. He spent almost his entire NBA career with the freaking San Antonio Spurs, and, frankly, I cannot envision a world in which that organization goes a decade without procuring a championship.
Anthony, meanwhile, will probably set the record for most All-Star nods without a Finals trip next season, assuming his brand remains intact, he remains healthy and Kristaps Porzingis’ popularity doesn’t break the voting process.
The New York Knicks are in no position to make an NBA Finals appearance this year. They’ll be lucky to reach the playoffs at all. And next season may only be marginally better.
Last I checked, LeBron James still called the Eastern Conference home, and there’s no guarantee the Knicks strike it big in free agency. If they convince a healthy Kevin Durant to sign alongside Melo and ‘Zaps, then we’re talking.
For now, barring a trade out of New York, we’re forced to acknowledge that Carmelo Anthony won’t soon make it to an NBA Finals matchup, if he ever makes it to one at all.
