Carmelo Anthony isn’t shy about speaking his mind, especially when it comes to the Knicks-a franchise he helped carry for seven seasons. And this week, he made it clear he doesn’t agree with the team’s decision to skip raising a banner at Madison Square Garden after their NBA Cup victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks took home the in-season tournament win earlier this week but announced they wouldn’t commemorate it with a banner. It’s a move that stands in contrast to what we’ve seen from other NBA franchises like the Lakers and Bucks, who embraced the league’s new midseason competition with celebratory banners of their own. New York, meanwhile, is keeping its focus on the bigger picture-deep playoff runs and, ultimately, championship banners.
But for Anthony, that mindset might be missing the moment.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Hall of Famer made a passionate case for honoring the achievement. “I know a lot of people talk about the in-season tournament cup, and should they raise the banner?
I think you have to appreciate this moment,” Anthony said. “Let’s appreciate all the wins that we have, that we come across, because years from now, this in-season tournament, this cup will be major.”
It’s a sentiment that taps into a larger conversation around the NBA Cup itself. Introduced as a way to inject new energy into the regular season, the tournament is still carving out its place in the league’s hierarchy of accomplishments.
Some teams have leaned in, treating it as a meaningful milestone. Others, like the Knicks, are taking a more measured approach.
For Anthony, the long-term significance of the Cup is part of the argument. He sees this as the start of something bigger-something that could, over time, become a celebrated part of league history. And from his perspective, failing to acknowledge it now might be missing a chance to build that tradition.
The Knicks’ stance, though, isn’t without support. Jalen Brunson, the team’s star guard, said he wasn’t involved in the banner decision but agreed with the logic behind it.
For Brunson and the rest of the locker room, the NBA Cup is a step forward-but not the finish line. It’s progress, not the prize.
Still, when a player like Carmelo Anthony speaks, fans listen. He’s not just a former Knick-he’s one of the most prolific scorers in franchise history and someone who understands the weight of playing under the Garden lights. His take adds depth to a growing debate: What exactly should the NBA Cup mean to teams and their legacies?
The win over San Antonio gave the Knicks a boost in the Eastern Conference standings, and with the regular season still in full swing, their focus remains on sustaining that momentum. But the banner conversation has opened the door to a broader discussion-one that goes beyond just this season.
As the NBA continues to push the Cup as a key part of its evolving structure, we’re likely to see more of these conversations. How do teams balance tradition with innovation? What’s worth celebrating now, and what will matter in five, ten, or twenty years?
For now, the Knicks are holding off on the banner. But if Anthony’s vision of the NBA Cup comes to pass, it might not be long before MSG has another piece of hardware hanging from the rafters.