EL SEGUNDO, California. -- With nineteen seasons in his NBA career and numerous achievements leading up to his tenure, Carmelo Anthony's résumé would suggest an automatic special for the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
However, Anthony, 37, is open to whatever his new team asks of him as he continues to chase the championship that has kept him out throughout his time in the league.
"At this point, man, whatever we need to do, let's do it," Anthony said Friday after the Lakers' third day of training camp. "It's not like... 'I can't sit down,' and, 'Oh, I want to start over,' 'I want to come off the bench.' Whatever it is, it is."
Anthony played 69 games for the Portland Trail Blazers last season and started in only three of them. This was the first time in his career, except for his unfortunate 10-game stint with the Houston Rockets in 2018-19, when he was primarily used as a reserve.
“I have 18, 17 years of experience starting out and coming off the bench for a year,” Anthony said. "It's not something I think about."
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he is still thinking of lineup combinations at his disposal this season, but has already told Anthony he will be an essential piece to LA's success.
"When we spoke with him before signing him, I told him that I envisioned a bigger role in this team," Vogel said. "I don't know what he's going to look like, is he going to start, is he going to come off the bench, but that he's going to be a factor for us."
The coach will have to wait to see how Anthony fits into the playing situation. Vogel said Anthony, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook would sit out for a rest in Sunday's presidential opener against the Brooklyn Nets. Trevor Ariza, who has missed most of training camp with a pain in his right ankle, will also be sidelined. Anthony Davis will play, but probably in the first quarter, the coach said.
But when Anthony plays he will have minutes. Vogel pointed to Anthony this summer, recalling how Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, a 41% 3-point shooter, and Kyle Kuzma, who shot 36.1% from the deep, reduced LA's pool of shooters, which was already shallow. While Anthony played a career-low 24.5 minutes per game last season, he shot 3 to 40.9% - his second best score since coming into the league.
"We probably won't talk about it again until we get closer to the regular season," Vogel said. "But I think he will have a bigger role in our team."
Vogel's communication plan is fine by Anthony. He credits the "clarity" that his new coach has opened up camp as he implemented offensive and defensive plans from last season with a roster full of 11 new faces.
"Whatever he wants, let's do it," said Anthony. "I'm not even trippin' about it at this point. Because let's go. Let's win."
When Anthony spoke to reporters, his face showed that his message wasn't just lip service. His left eyelid was scratched and swollen from a run-in with Davis on the practice court, but he laughed at the injury with the same good-naturedness with which he has been processing his role in the lineup.
"You gotta ask Anthony Davis, man. Ask Eddie. He tried to get me out early," Anthony said frankly, joking. "A little war wound, that's all."
This attitude reflects his appreciation for the game at this stage of his career, a career that he is not yet trying to finish.
"I'm still able to do what I do, man, at a high clip," he said. "But the No. 1 thing, I'm still passionate about it. I haven't lost my passion. My love for the sport is, I think, at the highest level now."
Lakers President and General Manager of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka has cited, on several occasions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, 44, as a prime example of how professional athletes are redefining what a prime How long can it last? Anthony was asked about Brady's claim that he could still compete in the NFL at age 50, and set a limit to how long his passion would last.
"Brady has an offensive line," he quipped. "They're going to defend Brady. I don't want to do that. I'm not playing at number 50, I'll let you know."