Knicks' Carmelo Anthony wants to be a top-three player next season

Fresh off signing a lucrative five-year contract with the New York Knicks earlier this summer, Carmelo Anthony is a motivated man.

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The 30-year-old has dropped significant weight in an effort to extend the length of his career and his trainer has told Idan Ravin the New York Post that Melo has pretty lofty goals for his performance with the Knicks next season.

"“Amazing people have been hired over there and he wants to come in as the leader and a top-three player in the world,’’ Ravin told The Post, adding Anthony wants the Knicks to follow his lead. “If [he’s] being meticulous, you should not just follow [his] word, but follow [his] actions.’’"

Ravin gave a little insight into what Melo’s been doing this offseason to make his desired increase in level of play occur.

"“He’s just tenacious with his training,’’ Ravin said. “He’s working out very hard, ramped it up, being even more meticulous. He’s been super diligent on his diet, extra cardio, rest. A lot of amazing people were hired [by the Knicks] and he’s excited about it. It’s another example of Melo trying to be super prepared.’’"

This is obviously great news for Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher and the rest of the Knicks organization. New York didn’t make the playoffs last season and traded away Tyson Chandler this summer, so Melo might have to actually be a top-three player for the Knicks to get back to playing competitive basketball.

Melo averaged 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists this past season.

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Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony wants to be a top-three player next season

By Sam Richmond | Aug 15, 2014