The Portland Trail Blazers are gearing up to face the Los Angeles Lakers tonight, but will be without one of their top players for the game (10:30 ET, ESPN). Forward Carmelo Anthony is officially listed as being not with the team for the game. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports Anthony is missing the game because of emotional stress he’s experiencing in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s recent death.
NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports Carmelo Anthony will not play Friday night against the Lakers in Los Angeles "because of his continued grieving and emotions over the loss of Kobe Bryant on Sunday." pic.twitter.com/jrPdl8RQN5
— Stadium (@Stadium) January 31, 2020
Anthony and Bryant were friends and shared many a memorable on-court showdown during their primes in the 2010s. Friday’s game in L.A. marks the Lakers’ first at home since Bryant’s passing and is slated to be an emotional one.
Lakers forward LeBron James and Anthony were both part of the 2003 draft class, with James being taken by Cleveland with the first overall pick and Anthony going to Denver with the third overall pick. As for Anthony’s relationship with Bryant, the two played on USA Basketball teams in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics as well as on the Western Conference All-Star team in 2007, ’08, ’10 and ’11.
Anthony is averaging 15.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game this season for Portland.
