With little competition through the Olympic practice schedule, the most interesting moments for Carmelo Anthony have come on the team plane. There, the elder statesman of the U.S. national team has been playing the part of the grumpy old man as his younger teammates playfully sing like they're on a team bus heading to the next high school game.
Anthony, 32, is the oldest player on the team and playing in his fourth Olympic Games. Only one teammate, Kyle Lowry, is at least 30 years old. So as Draymond Green Snapchats everything _ too many things _ and Jimmy Butler holds a singalong, Anthony just looks, as he explained after the final exhibition Monday, that he just isn't a morning person.
Understandable, but Anthony still has an important role on this team. He was part of the 2004 squad that settled for a bronze medal, then won gold in 2008 and 2012. While this group has little experience, Anthony _ even if he's a little achy in the morning _ can teach.
"I think I've seen it all over the years," Anthony told reporters after scoring a team-high 19 points Monday against Nigeria. "That's what I bring to this team, that experience."
Anthony always has been a team player with the national team, whether taking a back seat in some years or serving as the elder statesman. He's embraced that latter role now, speaking about the excitement of bringing young players on the journey, of serving as a leader in practice and in preparation.
He opted to stay with the team this summer, heading to Rio when others decided to stay home because of concerns about the conditions in Brazil _ including a CDC warning about the Zika virus outbreak. Some stayed home to nurse injuries or rest up after a long postseason, something Anthony didn't have to concern himself with as the Knicks missed the postseason for a third straight season.
But he's certainly hoping to reverse that trend in the coming season with the Knicks restocking the roster. While LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Anthony Davis, among others, chose to stay home, Anthony is spending his summer in Rio. Good for the brand, sure, but good for Anthony and the Knicks?
Phil Jackson gave Anthony his blessing on the decision, and Anthony can't be blamed for wanting to be a part of history, seeking his third gold medal. But if his knee is aching in April, or he's tired as the season wears on, that decision to be the old man on the plane might come back to haunt him _ and the Knicks.
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