The New York Knicks All-star forward continues to refurbish basketball courts in his father’s home land.
Carmelo Anthony is currently on his third trip to Puerto Rico in as many years. The purpose of these visits has been to refurbish the basketball courts in remote areas of the country and bring the game of basketball to the masses.
"There's plenty of kids down there who need role models," Anthony said. "I grew up in a situation like that. ... It was survival of the fittest."
The two courts that have been remodelled only recently are located in the city of Bayamon and are being used for hosting the Island’s top minor leagues with the possibility of these kids going on to play in the Superior Leagues.
Apart from these two courts, Anthony and his foundation were also responsible for bringing back to life a court located in a coastal town called Luquillo last year and also refurbished a court in the Old San Juan region in 2010.
During the press conference, Anthony revealed plans of hosting a softball game which will have free entry for all. Other known players from the NBA taking part in the game will be Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Marcus Camby
and J.J. Barea. The first three are Carmelo’s Knicks teammate while Barea hails from Puerto Rica. The game will also be attended by the former New York Yankees centre field player, Bernie Williams.
Moving into the media session, Anthony also revealed that he plans to get to know all the players the Knicks have added over the summer and was merely amused at the idea of him and Stoudemire not being able to play together.
"We sit in the locker room (and) laugh about all the comments," Anthony said.
Anthony also added that he and his foundation plan to re-furbish and fix more basketball courts in the island of Puerto Rico in the years to come.
This is a good step taken by Anthony to promote basketball in the island nation. Who knows, his efforts might one day lead to other players from the region making their earnings by playing basketball in the NBA.
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