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A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 20 november 2019
Starting over: Anthony set with Blazers and jersey No. 00

By ANNE M. PETERSON Oklahoma City to Atlanta
AP Sports Writer in July 2018, a move that
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — preceded the Hawks re-
Carmelo Anthony is now leasing him to sign with the
set with the Portland Trail Rockets.
Blazers and starting over The Bulls, technically, were
with jersey No. 00. his fourth franchise in seven
Word that the 10-time All- months.
Star had joined the team Eight of Anthony's 10 ap-
broke Thursday night, but pearances for the Rockets
the agreement was not came off the bench after
formalized until Tuesday the No. 3 pick in the 2003
when he signed a non- draft had started all 1,054
guaranteed contract that games he'd played in his
goes through January. If first 15 NBA seasons. He has
he stays, the contract be- averaged 24 points in 16
comes guaranteed for the seasons.
rest of the season. Anthony fills a need for
It was not immediately the Blazers, who are short-
clear when he would start handed at forward. Zach
practicing or playing with Collins recently had shoul-
the team. Portland was at der surgery that is expect-
New Orleans on Tuesday ed to keep him out for at
night. least four months. Rodney
Anthony hasn't played In this Nov. 3, 2018, file photo, Houston Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony, left, drives to the basket Hood was bothered by
since a 10-game stint with against Chicago Bulls forward Justin Holiday during the first half of an NBA basketball game in back spasms.
the Houston Rockets end- Chicago. Center Jusuf Nurkic broke
ed a little more than a year Associated Press his leg last month and isn't
ago. But the Blazers hope Anthony struggled at the cision. the team quickly decided expected back until after
there is enough game left end of his recent stops in "I always kept an eye on Anthony wasn't the right fit the New Year. Pau Gasol
in the 35-year-old forward Oklahoma City and Hous- Portland," he said. "It just with the system they play was signed by the Blazers in
to help them overcome a ton following 6 ½ seasons in didn't work out at other under Mike D'Antoni. the offseason and is still re-
5-9 start. New York. He continued to times, but now it seems like The three-time Olympic habbing from foot surgery.
"Carmelo is an established work out with NBA players, it's a perfect opportunity." gold medalist can still score The Blazers were reportedly
star in this league that will and his many friends and Anthony was acquired — he ranks among the top interested in Anthony in the
provide a respected pres- supporters insisted he was by the Chicago Bulls from 20 on the NBA's career list summer of 2017. Portland
ence in our locker room still good enough to play in Houston on Jan. 21, with — but his preferred style of guard CJ McCollum tried
and a skill set at a position the league. the intention of trading him doing it has been replaced to woo him with a photo-
of need on the floor," Neil Now he will get a chance before the deadline or let- by a faster game that ex- shopped Instagram post
Olshey, Portland's president to prove it. Anthony post- ting him go. He averaged poses his defensive weak- that showed the future
of basketball operations, ed a video on his YouTube 13.4 points in 10 games with nesses. Hall of Famer in a Blazers
said in a statement. channel explaining his de- the Rockets last season, but Anthony was traded by jersey.q

Lexi Thompson since she won her only ma-

jor at Rancho Mirage and
Continued from Page 18 in on a decade of golf at took a joyous leap into the
the elite level. pond? Remember, she was
But that victory at the Thompson, with 11 LPGA 12 when she qualified for
ShopRite Classic was mem- victories, returns to CME the U.S. Women’s Open
orable because Thompson Globe Tour Championship in 2007. She was 15 when
hit pitching wedge from as the defending champi- she finished runner-up at
192 yards on the par-5 clos- on, blowing away the field the Evian Championship.
ing hole to 20 feet and by four shots. Her brother She was 19 when she won
made eagle. Power is ap- was on the bag and she her first major at the Kraft
pealing. had family who drove Nabisco. There was always
And it was meaningful, over from the other side of the urge to feel like she’s
because it extended her Florida. Those were happy playing for others.
remarkable run of at least times. But it has not been And there is the relentless that’s helped me out more “I’ve gotten to that point
one victory in each of the without plenty of bumps temptation to meet expec- on the course, especially at some parts of my ca-
last seven years, the lon- along the way. tations that inevitably fol- recently.” reer, just a lot of expecta-
gest active streak on the She took an extended low a player who was pow- Her best golf was in the tions and feeling like I have
LPGA Tour. break from golf last year to erful and polished before summer, when she won to perform for others,” she
This also made her feel old. try to become more emo- she could drive a car. and was runner-up three said. “But now I know I’m
“It’s pretty crazy to think tionally whole. She took “This year, I learned the times during a rare five- putting in the hard work.
that I’ve been out for so to social media earlier this most about how I need to week stretch. But when I’m going out and trying
long and I’m only 24 years year to announce that she be emotionally,” Thomp- you’ve been that good for to win. But it’s not going to
old,” Thompson said. “It’s was getting off social me- son said. “On and off the that long, it’s easy to follow happen every time. I’m not
been a great road, journey dia, bothered by an end- golf course, I’m trying to a narrative of negativity. a robot. I’m human. This is
for me.” less stream of negativity be happier, be myself, not Should she be winning my life, and I’ve put in a lot
The question is whether she from people hiding behind putting up a front, just try- more? of work, and that’s what
feels 24 or someone closing handles. ing to enjoy life more. I think Has it really been five years people need to realize.” q