Carmelo Anthony tells New York Knicks coach not to worry about his free agency

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is probably looking for a mulligan in regards to his recent comments where he said he wanted to test out free agency.

Melo backed off just a day later, suggesting that while he wants to become a free agent, he doesn’t want to leave New York (because that makes total sense, right?).

That lead to Knicks head coach Mike Woodson telling members of the media that he hopes the free agency won’t become a distraction to Melo, who recently reassured the coach that won’t be the case:

"“He don’t have to bring that to me,’’ said Anthony after Friday’s practice in Tarrytown. “I already know that. I’m a guy, a strong-minded person who’s not going to let that outside stuff bother me. He knows that. Actually, I went to him before the season and told him: ‘Don’t even think about worrying about me, as far as letting that interfere with my game. I’m not, so you shouldn’t.’ ’’"

We’re a handful of games into the preseason and it’s already become a distraction, so not sure how it’s going to get any better during the season. Whether or not that actually alters the play of Melo remains to be seen, but it’ll be a topic discussed ad nauseam until the offseason.