A key highlight of the New York leg of the Richmond coaches and football department staff’s recent USA trip, was meeting NBA basketball star Carmelo Anthony.
Several Tiger coaches and football department personnel headed to ‘The Big Apple’ following the entire group’s nine-day training camp in Arizona. They visited the homes of the New York Giants, New York Jets and New York Knicks.
It was while looking over the facilities at the Knicks that the Tiger touring party was introduced to Anthony, who is regarded as one of the most well-known, popular, and best-performed players in the NBA.
Anthony, 27, is categorised as a small forward, despite his 203cm, 104kg frame, which is in stark contrast to small Tiger forwards such as Jake King and Robbie Nahas.
He joined the New York Knicks this year after a stellar career with the Denver Nuggets, where he helped turn their fortunes around through his scoring power.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Anthony was a member of the USA national basketball team that won the gold medal. He also is a four-time NBA All-Star.
Suffice to say, noted NBA fan and senior Richmond coach, Damien Hardwick, was suitably impressed with his chance Anthony meeting.
Anthony, however, resisted the overtures to come over to Australia and try his luck in the AFL with the Tigers . . .
