WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The Knicks are set to open training camp on Tuesday, but don’t ask Carmelo Anthony what type of offense the team will run under first-year coach Jeff Hornacek.
“I honestly don’t know what this offense is going to be,” Anthony said Monday at Knicks’ Media Day. “I think everybody is speculating something. I honestly don’t know. I haven’t talked to Jeff about what type of offense we’re gonna run, what we’re going to be doing.”
Hornacek is on record saying the triangle “will be part of our offense.” He was hired by President Phil Jackson in part because of his familiarity with the triangle offense from playing for former Phoenix Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, a disciple of triangle founder Tex Winter.
But Hornacek also ran an up-tempo attack and utilized multiple point guards during his tenure in Phoenix.
“I guess we will all be introduced to what’s going to happen [Tuesday] in our first practice,” Anthony said. “But I have no idea what’s going to happen, what kind of offense we’re going to run so I can’t really give you any details on that.”
The Knicks — who face odds of 80/1 to win the NBA title according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook — head to West Point for four days of training camp beginning Wednesday.
Coming off winning his third gold medal in Rio, Anthony said he feels tremendous excitement heading into a fresh season with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Brandon Jennings and Courtney Lee as his new teammates alongside Kristaps Porzingis.
“I don’t think there’s been this type of excitement surrounding our team since I’ve been here over the past couple of years,” he said. “The guys that we brought in was a group of guys that was put together in a very strategic way. The type of character guys that we have, the work ethic, the focus level is at an all-time high.”
Still, he understands it will take a while for all the new pieces to jell.
Anthony is working under his fifth coach with the Knicks and has nine new teammates. He said 8-10 Knicks spent time with him in Puerto Rico in August in order to bond and jell.
“Over the past few years I’ve been trying to create that vibe and get guys together throughout the season, kind of taking themselves away from the game of basketball and get a chance to know everyone off the court,” he said.
“I know this year I was able to get an opportunity to know more about Derrick, Courtney, the other guys that we have on this team, Brandon. So that’s more of a social event for me to get guys there so we can get an idea of who people are, not as basketball players but as people.”
Hornacek has said he may play Rose and Jennings together in the backcourt at times. The Knicks also want to see Anthony on the wing on the fast break as opposed to pushing the ball, and scoring closer to the basket at times.
Anthony said he’s open to whatever makes the team better, but knows it’s going to take a collective effort — especially since nobody knows what the offense is right now.
“I’m always open to new ways and new things and experiencing new situations to help better my game and help better everyone else’s game so we’ll see, man,” Anthony said. “I’m ready to get out here and go play and figure this thing out as we all go along.
“We’re not going to figure it all out in this first week of training camp here in West Point.”
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