Knicks' Carmelo Anthony to Miss Playoffs for 1st Time in Career

Although the New York Knicks still have two games remaining on their regular-season schedule, the team was eliminated from playoff contention by an Atlanta Hawks victory on Saturday night, per the New York Daily News. As a result, star forward Carmelo Anthony will miss the playoffs for the first time in his 11-year NBA career.

In the wake of last year's 54-win campaign, the Knicks entered this season with expectations that another successful run would convince Anthony—who can opt out of his contract this summer—to re-sign in New York.

However, after limping out to a disappointing 20-32 record at the All-Star break, Anthony and the Knicks faced an uphill battle to save their season.

A second-half stretch of 12 wins in 15 games gave New York a realistic chance of making the postseason, but the Knicks ultimately could not overcome such early-season futility.

The face of the franchise, Anthony ranks second in the league at 27.4 points per game this season and is also averaging over eight rebounds for the first time in his career.

Nonetheless, Anthony's best efforts couldn't save the Knicks, a team presently with 19 fewer wins than last season.

While New York's splashy hiring of Phil Jackson—owner of 13 NBA championship rings—as team president could help persuade Anthony that winning is on the horizon, having his decade-long streak of playoff appearances snapped may prompt Anthony to join a proven contender.

In any event, the 29-year-old Anthony won't factor into postseason play this season, culminating the Knicks' horrid 2013-2014 campaign.