Carmelo Anthony: Saya Akan Selalu Mencintaimu, New York!

Perjalanan karier pebasket Carmelo Anthony bersama New York Knickerbockers atau yang lebih dikenal dengan nama New York Knicks telah menemui babak akhir.  

Pasca-bermain untuk Knicks selama tujuh musim, Anthony kini melanjutkan kariernya bersama Oklahoma City Thunder.

Meski sudah resmi meninggalkan Knicks, Anthony mengaku akan selalu mencintai Kota New York.

Pemain yang akrab disapa Melo ini juga menilai New York telah membantunya menjadi sosok individual seperti sekarang.

Semua pujian tersebut ditulis Anthony dalam surat perpisahan yang diunggah ke situs pribadinya.

Born and bred New York, we thank you for what you’ve given to our city, organization, and fans. #Knicks pic.twitter.com/FoTGdeL8mU

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) September 25, 2017

Berikut petikan surat perpisahan tersebut yang dilansir dari situs resmi NBA.

Dear NEW YORK,

From the day I first met you, I knew we were meant to be together. It was love at first sight.

[…]

I came to NYC to B (Be) Born again. The sense of something extraordinary happening left me with a lot of sleepless nights dreaming of possibilities. The one thing I kept telling myself was ‘Make my mark in NYC and I’d be a made man’.

New York equipped me to make it in any other place in the world. It taught me how to Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable. Saying Goodbye is the hardest thing to do. I never thought I would, especially to you.

No one will ever take your place. It’s hard to find someone like you, so know you will always be missed. You helped me laugh. You dried my tears. Because of you, I have no fears. You came into my life and I was blessed.

It’s time to raise my hand and say goodbye. It’s not the end, because like I’ve always said, NYC ‘til the end.

I’ve known you for years now, and I must say they’ve been the best years I’ve ever had. You helped me become the person I am today. I just want you to know YOU will always be in my heart. No matter what happens, I will always LOVE YOU.

Although this goodbye is just temporary, this is the hardest goodbye for me to say. I wipe the tears off my cheek and smile at the same time because I know that we will meet again someday.

“I’ve had my shining moments, upon this life darkened stage.” And in my BOOK of WONDERMENTS, you will never be just another page. Your bright lights will travel with me far past when all the other lights go out.

Anthony pindah ke Thunder setelah kubu Knicks dan Thunder sepakat melakukan transaksi tukar pemain alias trade.

Sebagai pengganti Anthony, manajemen Knicks akan mendapat tiga pemain dari Thunder yakni Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, dan pemain dari draft putaran kedua musim 2018 (diambil melalui Chicago Bulls).