Michele Roberts Calls Phil Jackson's Carmelo Anthony Comments Inappropriate

A day after New York Knicks president Phil Jackson told reporters he believes Carmelo Anthony "would be better off somewhere else," according to the New York Times' Mike Vorkunov, the National Basketball Players Association released a statement expressing its displeasure with his choice of words. 

"We voiced with the Commissioner today our view on the inappropriate comments by Knicks President Phil Jackson," NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said, per Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver. "If players under contract cannot, under threat of league discipline, speak openly about their desire to be employed elsewhere, we expect management to adhere to the same standards. The door swings both ways when it comes to demonstrating loyalty and respect." 

Jackson's comments about Anthony's future―or lack thereof―with the Knicks were wide-ranging and blunt, and he didn't shy away from sharing the contents of their exit interview discussion. 

"I just said that you haven't won here. You don't want to end up your career not winning," Jackson said of Anthony, per ESPN.com's Ian Begley. "This is not something that you want to have labeled on your career. You want to get to that territory where you have a chance to win."

Once Jackson's media availability concluded, Anthony―who is also an NBPA vice-president―appeared to send the Zen Master a message with a post on Instagram: 

That back and forth spearheaded a day of controversy for the Knicks, but it didn't all revolve around the 10-time All-Star. 

Later Friday night, Begley reported Kristaps Porzingis skipped his exit interview with Jackson and members of the Knicks front office "due to frustration over what he perceives as the dysfunction and drama surrounding the organization."

As far as next season is concerned, Begley cited a source who said Anthony is "leaning strongly" toward waiving his no-trade clause if the Knicks can swing a deal to send him to a preferable locale. 

Porzingis, meanwhile, appears ready to clear his head. According to a report from The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, "Porzingis is planning a long trip back to Latvia that may not include a return to New York until closer to the start of training camp."

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