Carmelo Anthony has been frustrated by the way officials have allowed defenders to play him lately, and he's done being quiet about it.
The Knicks star talked about flopping and officiating during a season in which he is averaging a career low in free-throw attempts per game (5.7). That has been a trend as Anthony's free-throw attempts have fallen in each of the past three seasons.
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Anthony isn’t just blaming the refs, however.
"I don’t know how to flop, that’s the thing,” Anthony said Wednesday, via the New York Post. “Nowadays guys know how to flop, get hit and put their head back. I don’t know how to flop. I won’t even look right trying to do that. I won’t even feel right trying it."
The eight-time NBA All-Star also said officials have given him an unwanted title.
“They just tell me I’m the most difficult player to referee in the NBA,’’ Anthony said. “I’ve heard that a couple of times. It’s unclear on who is creating the contact. My goal is to go to the basket. If I’m creating the contact going toward the basket (and) I get hit, it’s a foul.’’
But, Melo, if you're the one initiaiting the contact . . . ah, nevermind.
The NBA is known for giving preferential treatment to superstars, but Anthony is 19th in the league in free-throw attempts behind players such as Paul Millsap, Eric Bledsoe and Danilo Gallinari. The former Syracuse star has also been assessed technical fouls in back-to-back games for arguing with referees.
It's safe to say these comments have been a long time coming.