Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony Insists He isn’t on a “Farewell Tour”

Carmelo Anthony with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Carmelo Anthony found his way back to the NBA after spending almost a year away from the league, and it seems like he wants to get most out of it. In a recent chat with The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, Melo said that he isn’t on any kind of a “farewell tour” and that he doesn’t consider retirement just yet.

Anthony remained unsigned for the majority of the last season and the beginning of this one before Portland Trail Blazers signed him to a non-guaranteed contract two weeks ago. Many viewed this as an opportunity for Melo to do a Dwyane Wade-type “farewell tour,” before saying goodbye to the NBA. However, the 35-year-old Brooklyn-native has other plans.

“My love for the game don’t stop,” Melo told Charania. “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 (thought about it) during this past stretch over the summer. But ain’t no retiring in my mind. I believe in what I have left.”

Carmelo Anthony was notably rusty in his first few games with the Blazers, but he looks like he is getting his groove back. In Monday’s win against Chicago Bulls, Anthony was Portland’s best player, dropping 25 points and eight rebounds. It looks like Melo is making a comeback, rather than “farewell tour.”