Carmelo Anthony feels bad for Amar'e Stoudemire and his injury problems over the last couple of years. Though Stoudemire came to NY before 'Melo and dominated, finishing amongst the the top five in MVP voting, he hasn't been able to produce at a consistent level since.
From Pro Basketball Talk :
The reason Stoudemire wasn’t offered the same deal to stay in Phoenix was due to his previous knee injuries, which not only left his future contract uninsurable, but also served as a warning sign to team medical personnel that the problems may resurface a few years down the road.
Unfortunately for Stoudemire, that’s exactly what’s happened. He was limited last season, and looks to be limited in the upcoming one, as well. But Anthony may not have found New York to be as desirable a destination without another superstar already in tow, so it’s no surprise he feels a kinship with Stoudemire, and a disappointment with the way his injury situation continues to play out.
Melo Shares his thoughts
“As a friend, it’s hard for me to sit back and act like it doesn’t bother me because I know how hard of a worker he is [and] I know the time that he puts in the gym to train and rehab,” Anthony said Tuesday. “To see him go forward and then take some steps back every time, it’s just sad.”
With the pieces that the Knicks have added, it looks like they might be moving forward without him. 'Melo and the Knicks know that his injury problems may be out of his control, but at the same time they are facing pressure to bring a championship to New York.