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SPORTS Friday 16 November 2018

Rockets “parting ways” with 10-time All-Star Anthony

By KRISTIE RIEKEN right attitude in Houston.
AP Sports Writer “In the summer we tried to
HOUSTON (AP) — Carmelo hit a home run and it didn’t
Anthony is done in Houston. work out,” D’Antoni said.
Rockets general manager “He tried everything he
Daryl Morey released a could. He was great while
statement Thursday saying he was here. It just didn’t
the team is “parting ways” work out for whatever rea-
with Anthony and “working son. I just thank him for his
toward a resolution.” professionalism.
Anthony played just 10 It was good. He tried every-
games for Houston after thing he could to make it
signing a one-year, $2.4 work and it just didn’t work
million deal during the off- out.”
season. Morey added that: The third overall pick in the
“Carmelo had a tremen- 2003 draft has averaged 24
dous approach during his points, 6.5 rebounds and
time with the Rockets and 3 assists in a career that
accepted every role head also included stints with the
coach Mike D’Antoni gave Denver Nuggets and the
him. The fit we envisioned New York Knicks.
when Carmelo chose to Anthony sat out Houston’s
sign with the Rockets has In this Friday, Nov. 2, 2018 file photo, Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris guards Houston Rockets last three games with what
not materialized, therefore forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New York. the team called an illness.
we thought it was best to Associated Press His last appearance for
move on as any other out- Rockets limped out to a 6-7 game and he was trying to coming to Houston — and Houston came in a blow-
come would have been start and the emergence make the necessary sac- accepting a reserve role out loss to Oklahoma City
unfair to him.” of undrafted rookie Gary rifices and it wasn’t fair to for the first time in his 16- on Nov. 8 when he had two
Anthony was traded from Clark made it appear that him as a Hall of Fame player year career. points and five rebounds.
the Oklahoma City Thunder Anthony would have to to play in a way that wasn’t Eight of Anthony’s 10 ap- D’Antoni expects the rest of
to the Atlanta Hawks in July take a reduced role. good for him, wasn’t good pearances for the Rock- the Rockets to handle this
before the Hawks released In the end the Rockets de- for us. It just wasn’t a fit.” ets came off the bench professionally, but knows
him to clear the way for him cided it would be better to The 34-year-old Anthony is after he had started all that the move will be tough
to sign with the Rockets. move on than to force An- a 10-time All-Star who has 1,054 games he’d played on them.
Houston thought he could thony to do that. had a tough time over the in his first 15 NBA seasons. “I’m sure they hate it,”
be the piece it needed to fi- “We just had to see last two seasons. He aver- D’Antoni said he feels for D’Antoni said. “There’s
nally get past Golden State how things worked out,” aged a career-low 16.2 Anthony that things ended some good friends in there
and win its first champion- D’Antoni said. “And the points in 78 starts in a tu- this way and made it clear and there will be friend-
ship since back-to-back way we play probably multuous season for the that it wasn’t a matter of ships. But above all this is a
titles in 1994-95. Instead the wasn’t conducive to his Thunder last season before Anthony not having the business.”q

Lakers’ Rajon Rondo to have surgery on broken right han

By GREG BEACHAM Wednesday night. Rondo vamped club. “Obviously since the 2011-12 season. likely to play more minutes
AP Sports Writer apparently hurt his hand we can’t replace what Their four-game winning overall. Rondo has been a
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rajon while making a steal, but Rondo does for our team streak is the NBA’s longest mentor to Ball, even study-
Rondo is expected to have he kept playing for several and how important he is to active run. ing film with the second-
surgery this week on his bro- more minutes before com- our team, but we’re not go- The Lakers already spent year playmaker.
ken right hand, and the Los ing out of the game. ing to make excuses,” Wal- three games without Ron- “We’ll miss him, but his pres-
Angeles Lakers plan to use Coach Luke Walton ton said. “That’s not who do this season during his ence is still going to be felt,”
a variety of strategies to praised Rondo’s leadership we are as a group. We’re suspension for fighting with said Ball, who is averaging
replace the veteran point and two-way contributions going to step up, and guys Chris Paul during LA’s home 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds
guard while he heals. Thursday after the Lakers’ are going to pick up the opener. They have even and 4.8 assists while play-
Los Angeles will be without final practice before head- slack and add to their re- more options to fill in during ing his usual stellar defense.
Rondo for at least a few ing out on a three-game sponsibility.” this longer stretch without “When he comes in, the
weeks after he was injured road trip. Although he has The injury comes at an in- him. pace goes however he
in the fourth quarter of the played only 11 games for opportune time for the Lonzo Ball, who took over wants it to go. He gets ev-
Lakers’ fourth straight win, LA, Rondo is already a Lakers (8-6), who are off as a starter during Rondo’s erybody in their spots. So
126-117 over Portland on key component of the re- to their best 14-game start suspension and never left, is that’s what I try to do.” q