Basketball Will Carmelo Anthony play in the 2016 Olympics? by Renee Washington May 8, 2016 New York Knicks All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony is preparing for the off-season. After yet another disappointing NBA season finishing the last 38 games at 10-28, the Knicks finished the 2015-2016 season at 32-50. The All-Star forward is heavily considering whether to participate with the United States Olympic basketball team in the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. As much as he would love to play, there are other things going on right now that have him wondering if it is worth the time commitment. For Melo, he is worried about the physical strain that going to Brazil would be put on his body. Not to mention, the safety concerns that are going on in Brazil. Anthony is not in a rush to make a decision. He is focusing on resting mentally and physically, taking time away from basketball to get some clarity. The 31 year old, has been struggling more and more over the last four years. In the 2012-2013 season, the led the league with 28.7 points per game. This past season he averaged 21.8 point per game. Along with a decrease in points, he is always experiencing a lot of physical wear and tear. He has suffered a number of injuries, specifically knee and ankle problems. He still averaged 35 minutes per game in 72 contests this season. If Carmelo plays in Brazil for basically all of August, then he would not get a full offseason to rest. That would give him a little less than two months to prepare for his 14th NBA season. Brazil recently underwent a Zika virus scare so they may not be able to provide a hospitable environment for the Olympic athletes. The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that has big-name American athletes voicing their concerns about their safety. In addition, Brazil has cut its security budget in March that leads them vulnerable to an attack. With the recent terror attacks in Paris and Brussels, there are health and safety concerns for the players. It is still up in the air if Melo will decide to play in the Olympics this summer or will instead rest this summer. Carmelo Anthony is one of 30 finalists trying out for the 12-man roster to potentially represent the United States for fourth time. For fans looking to attend this year’s Summer Olympics, make sure to check out the Rio De Janeiro flight guide from Hipmunk.com, as well as hotels in Rio De Janeiro. Post Views: 1,521 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Renee Washington Renee is a Staff Writer at DoubleGSports.com with a focus on Temple Men's Basketball and other area sports content. Latest posts by Renee Washington (see all) Temple grabs fourth straight win - February 8, 2018 Temple Looks to Bounce Back Against Tulsa Wednesday - January 15, 2018 Analyzing Temple’s season through the halfway point - January 14, 2018 Game On! Temple still Scheduled to Face Cincinnati Thursday night - January 4, 2018 Related TopicsCarmelo AnthonyNew York KnicksOlympicsRioRio OlympicsTeam USA Click to comment You must be logged in to post a comment Login Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 Lochte, Dressel and Ledecky all Chasing Gold at 2021 Tokyo Olympics by Anthony Paradiso | posted on April 18, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 109: The Athletic’s Marc Carig (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 19, 2021 Michael Jordan Could Change the Future of Nascar for the Better by Inesh Chari | posted on March 30, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 106: Newsday’s Neil Best (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 12, 2021 More in Basketball You Know I’m Right, Episode 111: New York Giants’ Insider John Schmeelk (Audio/Video) On the 111th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 107: New York Post’s Columnist Mike Vaccaro (Audio/Video) On the 107th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 97: SNY’s Michelle Margaux (Audio/Video) On the 97th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined SNY’s... WNBA Rolling Out Red Carpet For Upcoming 25th Anniversary Season The WNBA’s 25th season also marks the debut of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Phil Jackson Puts Knicks on Hold to go on Vacation Rutgers Overlooked by NCAA Men’s Selection Committee in Favor of John’s Hopkins