Carmelo Anthony willing to change for Phil Jackson to win NBA title

Carmelo Anthony is not dumb. He’s seen Phil Jackson turn Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant from dynamic scorers to dynamic scorers who won NBA championships with his guidance.

Jackson, the new president of the New York Knicks who will be introduced Tuesday, faces the challenge of re-signing Anthony as his biggest order of business.

If Jackson is successful in convincing Anthony to stick in New York for the foreseeable future, Anthony is prepared to do anything in order to win an NBA title.

"“I’m willing to do whatever,” Anthony said after practice Monday. “As long as it’s gonna put me in a position to win, I’m willing to do whatever. I’m not sold or stuck on my play.”“What I’ve been able to do these past 10-11 years has gotten me at where I am right now,” Anthony continued. “If Phil wants to come in and change that this late in my career, if it’s going to help me win a championship, I’m with it.”"

Anthony can receive more money from the Knicks who can offer him $129 million dollars over five years in a max deal compared to other teams who would only be allowed to offer him a four-year deal worth $96 million.

I’d be surprised to see Anthony leave $33 million and an extra year on the table, but I’d be more shocked to see him turn down an opportunity to have Jackson mentor him as he did for Jordan and Bryant, albeit in a front-office role rather than as a coach–at least for now.

“As far as knowing what it takes to win, Phil is the best to ever do it,” Anthony said. “So for me to be able to have the opportunity and have him by my side, for him to teach me, you know, because I’m still willing to learn the game of basketball.

“And I haven’t won anything [and] he’s won a lot. I can learn a lot from him and his system, things that he wants to incorporate here. I’m hoping and praying this all works.”