Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni is reportedly "leaning towards" bringing Carmelo Anthony off the bench this season, which is apparently just fine with the 34-year old forward.
According to ESPN's Tim McMahon, D'Antoni wants to start Eric Gordon with Chris Paul and James Harden, while using Carmelo as a sixth man, who will pair up with a strong defender like James Ennis as much as possible.
During Media Day on Monday, Melo was asked about coming off the bench for the Rockets - and he had a much different response than when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. After OKC's first-round exit in the playoffs, Melo told reporters (H/T NBA.com), "Yeah, I'm not sacrificing no bench role. So, that's out of the question."
When asked about the possibility of coming off the bench this season, Carmelo told reporters on Monday, "Whatever I have to do to help this team win a championship."
"At the end of the day, we're all going to camp to figure out what works in order for this team to try to win a championship," Anthony said, according to ESPN. "If that time comes, we'll have that conversation. My goal is to go into training camp, be the best player I can be, be in the best shape I can be and do what I have to do to help this team get over the hump and win a championship. That's all it is.
"All the questions of coming off the bench, I don't want to answer those questions at the end of the day. Whatever I have to do to help this team win a championship, that's what's going to be done."
Last season, Anthony averaged a career-low 16.2 points per game as well as 5.8 rebounds. The Rockets will open up the 2018-19 season at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 17, in a game that will air on ESPN.
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