Long-time NBA star Carmelo Anthony made his season debut with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in a 115-104 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on the road.
Despite not having played in an NBA game in over a year and not having had time to practice with his new team, Anthony was named a starter in coach Terry Stotts’s lineup.
The ten-time NBA All-Star didn’t have his sharpest night in his Portland debut, showing signs of rust that are largely attributable to his long absence from the game.
Anthony played 24 minutes, scoring 10 points on 4-14 shooting from the field. He did make two of his three attempts from beyond the arc. Anthony collected four rebounds and committed five turnovers without recording any assists.
He did not draw any fouls or attempt any shots from the free-throw line.
Despite his slow night, Anthony sounded positive and upbeat after the game. He said, “It felt great to be back in the flow of the game, be back on the court, be back to where I think I belong at.”
Anthony is expected to start most nights for the 5-10 Blazers, who are looking for a spark to get them out of their slow start to the season. The team’s next game is on Thursday night against Milwaukee.
