Carmelo Anthony vs. Amar'e Stoudemire: Who Should Lead the Knicks?

The concept of the super team is a fixture in modern professional basketball, and it appears to be here to stay.

When the universes of elite players collide, developing chemistry can be a tricky situation—something that usually doesn’t happen overnight.

Traditionally, even teams with multiple All-Stars have a clear-cut leader.

Last generation, the Chicago Bulls had Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, but Jordan was the general. Today, the Los Angeles Lakers have Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and there’s no question Bryant runs the show.

But, what about the Miami Heat? A year after joining forces, it’s still debatable if Dwyane Wade or LeBron James is in charge.

Even the Boston Celtics are ambiguous. The initial assumption is it must be Paul Pierce, but you can also make a strong case for Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen.

The New York Knicks can identify with the Heat or Celtics, but not with the Lakers. Between Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, neither has completely separated themselves from the rest of the pack.

A leader on the basketball court not only sets a positive example through physical actions, but vocally as well. Off the court, a leader should carry himself with dignity and remain on the straight and narrow.

Let’s investigate whether Stoudemire or Anthony possesses the intangibles necessary to embrace the role.

Franchise Player (Edge – Amar’e Stoudemire)

Exactly who is the face of the Knicks’ franchise? There was little doubt New York was Amar’e Stoudemire’s team from midsummer through the All-Star break, but that all changed on February 21, 2011.

What hurts Stoudemire in this argument is he was never the bull’s-eye on the Knicks’ dartboard of free agency; LeBron James was. When New York lost the King James sweepstakes, Stoudemire was the consolation prize.

At the outset, Knicks fans were devastated, but they learned to accept Stoudemire—who was probably New York’s most significant signing since Patrick Ewing a quarter-century before. Stoudemire was the knight in shining armor, and he vowed to refurbish an organization in ruins.

Prior to the 2010-11 season, Knicks faithful were already anticipating the following summer, when Carmelo Anthony would potentially toss his hat into the free agency ring. If they couldn’t have James, come hell or high water, Anthony was coming to Gotham.

The news of Anthony refusing a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets sent Knicks fans into a frenzy, and doctored images of him donning a Knicks uniform began popping up everywhere. Some fans had even ordered customized Anthony Knicks jerseys and proudly wore them at home games.

Anthony eventually wound up signing a three-year extension with New York, which includes a player option for the fourth year. Over the course of those first three seasons, Anthony will rake in about $60 million.

On the other hand, Stoudemire is locked in for five years and $100 million.

Based on the Knicks’ allegiance to Stoudemire, in combination with their decision to commit to such a lengthy deal, and Stoudemire’s willingness to agree to terms excluding any opt-out clauses, it’s only fair to place the franchise tag on him.

Anthony may be the more talented player, but being that Stoudemire is the foundation and first major piece in the rebuilding process, the vote goes to Stoudemire.

Media Savvy (Edge – Amar’e Stoudemire)

Residing in New York City, I was never exposed to Amar’e Stoudemire through the media the way that I am now, until he joined the Knicks.

From day one, Stoudemire has been a class act in front of the camera and handled interviews with the grace of some of the game’s most respected veterans.

Bearing in mind Stoudemire made the jump from high school to the pros, he is extremely polished and speaks eloquently. At the age of 28, Stoudemire is wise beyond his years.

Incidentally, Stoudemire may be preparing for a career beyond basketball, considering he appeared as a guest host Tuesday on ESPN SportsNation. He actually held his own alongside anchor Michelle Beadle and Sportscenter staple Neil Everett.

Contrarily, Carmelo Anthony is only a year younger, but not nearly as refined. Anthony has improved his presentation over the years, but he still carries a particular “street” element that should fade as time progresses.

Whereas Anthony is often off the cuff, Stoudemire is well versed in his responses, and he rarely says anything offensive or incriminating.

When a player is in the public eye, not only is his reputation at stake, but so is that of the organization that employs him. A leader is expected to represent himself and the team with pride and sophistication.

Stoudemire exemplifies these traits.

Raw Talent (Edge – Carmelo Anthony)

This one is pretty cut and dry. As a team leader, you have to be at the forefront, and the only way to do that is to be on the court and excel at your craft.

Obviously, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony are New York’s top-tier players, and they’ll see more minutes than anyone. So, lack of visibility is a nonfactor.

By default, a leader is almost always the most gifted on his team. However, Stoudemire and Anthony are not merely the best on the Knicks—they’re two of the premier players the sport has to offer.

They play different positions, and their styles are polar opposites, but one of the game’s all-time greats couldn’t have said it any plainer.

On the set of TNT’s Inside the NBA, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said, “The best offensive player in the NBA is Carmelo Anthony.”

In a game where putting the ball in the basket is more glamorous than any other aspect, it is typically expected of a team leader to take on the bulk of the scoring.

Although Stoudemire is more than capable of being the primary scoring option—and was in Phoenix for many years—Anthony is just too skilled in this area to ignore. Having discovered his three-point stroke since his New York arrival, there are no weaknesses in Anthony’s arsenal.

Anthony was and will continue to be the Knicks’ main offensive threat whether Stoudemire is sharing the floor with him or not.

Clearly, neither player is known for their defensive prowess or rebounding, but both of them have the ability to make strides in each category.

Stoudemire tends to be too physical and get into foul trouble if he ramps up his aggressiveness, and this ultimately impacts his defensive effectiveness.

Of the two, Anthony is more likely to become the complete player.

When Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups were sidelined with injuries, Anthony—with his back against the wall—showed flashes of a total package during the playoffs against the Boston Celtics. He just needs to figure out how to play with this urgency regardless of the circumstances.

Charisma (Edge – Carmelo Anthony)

There are certain athletes who happen to have the “it” factor. These players possess the kind of magnetic personality that is matched by few, and it is this charisma that makes them natural-born leaders who’d rather carve their own path in life than follow the crowd.

Carmelo Anthony is one of them.

There’s a reason he was able to guide one of college basketball’s most successful programs to the 2003 National Championship as an 18-year-old freshman attending Syracuse University. And, it’s not entirely related to talent.

Anthony has a smile that will light up the room, and people have a tendency to gravitate toward him. That star power has afforded him multiple endorsement deals in which he is seen on television commercials and plastered on billboards the size of buildings.

It’s the same principles which lure big corporations to Anthony that cause players to believe in him too. The confidence that Anthony displays on the court is infectious.

While Amar’e Stoudemire also has a flair about him, he does not come across as gregarious and fun-loving as Anthony. In turn, players may not feel as comfortable around him.

Aside from his brief stint serving as the Knicks’ main attraction, Stoudemire always shared the spotlight with other superstars in Phoenix—most notably Steve Nash.

In contrast, Anthony has been the center of attention on every team at every level and experienced a great deal of success. He’s yet to miss the postseason in eight professional seasons.

Give him a bit more time with the Knicks, and the poise that Anthony regularly exhibits will begin to rub off on his teammates.

Motivational Qualities (Edge – Amar’e Stoudemire)

When Amar’e Stoudemire put the Knicks on his back and carried them into February with a winning record, he was a legitimate MVP candidate and a wonderful inspiration to his teammates.

Witnessing someone leave it all on the court game after game forces the players surrounding him to step up as well.

Stoudemire’s enthusiasm to play out of position due to a lack of better options at center also confirmed his unselfishness. He was open to sacrifice for the betterment of the team.

One of the best methods of motivating those around you is sucking it up and playing hurt. Carmelo Anthony should be commended for fighting through the pain of elbow bursitis on his shooting arm—a condition dating back to the earlier part of the 2010-11 season while in Denver.

Although it became so bothersome that it prevented him from being able to follow through on jump shots during the postseason, Anthony never made excuses or blamed the injury for any mishaps. He even managed to raise his scoring average after the trade and capped it off with one of the best all-around playoff performances in recent memory in Game 2 versus the Celtics.

Not to be outdone, Stoudemire fought through a severe ankle sprain and even hobbled around with a back injury that should’ve kept him inactive for the remainder of the playoffs.

What sets Stoudemire apart from Anthony here is his vocal presence. Stoudemire is a talker, and if you’ve ever had the privilege to hear him miked up during a game, he doesn’t disappoint.

Whether it’s words of encouragement or finding fault with something a teammate did wrong, Stoudemire doesn’t hesitate to voice his opinion.

Anthony has never been much of a narrator on the court, with the exception of maybe trash talking. It’s something he’ll really need to work on if he hopes to lead the Knicks, especially if he’s still around when Stoudemire’s long gone.

Maturity (Edge – Amar’e Stoudemire)

Amar’e Stoudemire has about as negative a childhood story as anybody, and it’s a miracle he’s accomplished what he has.

Stoudemire’s mom was in and out of jail, and his dad passed away before he was a teenager, so he never knew what it was like to grow up in a normal, loving household. Instead, he bounced around various homes and attended six different high schools.

Often fending for himself, Stoudemire had no choice but to grow up fast. This helped him prepare for life in the NBA as a teenager.

As I touched upon in a previous slide, Stoudemire has a good head on his shoulders. You never hear about him getting involved in any off-the-court mischief, and aside from the occasional technical, he’s an excellent role model on the court as well.

It’s extremely beneficial to have a veteran like him on the team because not only does he generally keep his composure during games, he brings nine years worth of NBA wisdom into the locker room and practice facility.

Stoudemire’s an extraordinary mentor for the younger Knicks to be able to access too.

Early in his career, Carmelo Anthony was cited more than once for marijuana possession and also got a bad rap for appearing in an underground DVD, which featured him on the Baltimore streets associating with alleged drug dealers.

During the winter of 2006, Anthony was suspended for 15 games after participating in a fight with the Knicks when his Denver Nuggets were visiting the Garden.

With a young son, whom he adores, and a recent marriage to La La Vazquez, Anthony looks to be headed in the right direction. He’s leaps and bounds ahead of where he used to be, but he still demonstrates some immaturity.

In layman’s terms Amar’e Stoudemire is a man, and Carmelo Anthony is transitioning into one.

As a high-profile NBA player, the maturation process is mandatory if you intend to become a reputable team leader.

Final Tally (Amar’e Stoudemire – 4, Carmelo Anthony – 2)

The analysis was fairly close, but Amar’e Stoudemire edged out Carmelo Anthony in a couple categories.

Stoudemire holds the advantage over Anthony for being the franchise player, media savvy, a motivator and exhibiting maturity. Meanwhile, overall basketball ability and charisma are in Anthony’s favor.

On the surface, Anthony seems like the apparent choice to lead the Knicks, chiefly because he did it in Denver for seven full seasons.

However, by delving deeper into some of the other qualities inherent to being a leader besides pure talent, we find that it is more suitable for Stoudemire to guide the team for the next four years.