Newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Carmelo Anthony, revealed what LeBron James said to him during free agency.
The Los Angeles Lakers, much like they did last offseason, made huge splashes on both the free agency and trade markets. Shortly after they acquired star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards, the Lakers secured a one-year deal with free agent Carmelo Anthony to join his friend, LeBron James, for the first time in his career.
When meeting with the media on Monday, Anthony revealed that prior to signing, James told him that “the time is now” and “we’ve got to make it happen.”
Carmelo Anthony reveals message he received from LeBron James in free agency
After finishing the final year of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, Anthony had a choice to make. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Anthony was choosing between the Lakers and his former team, the New York Knicks. Yet, it was the Lakers that won out in the end.
Through 69 games this past season with the Trail Blazers, Anthony averaged 13.4 points and 3.1 rebounds a night while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from the 3-point line.
Anthony was far from the only veteran that the Lakers brought this offseason, as they also signed Dwight Howard and Trevor Ariza to contracts.
The Lakers felt they had built the correct roster last offseason to help them repeat as NBA champions, but that never came to fruition, given the multitude of injuries they endured throughout the 2020-21 season. While the team did defeat the Golden State Warriors in the play-in round to clinch the 7-seed in the Western Conference, they were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns.
Not only does Anthony get to team up with his friend in James, but he also has the opportunity to potentially win his first ever NBA title.