Carmelo Anthony to Work Out With Dwyane Wade

There's nothing like getting a good workout in with an NBA Champion!

Though the Heat's 2011 NBA Finals collapse has probably been more celebrated and/or recognized by fans than the title the team actually won in 2006, that doesn't change the fact that Dwyane Wade is a former NBA Finals MVP.

As fate would have it, even though he wasn't lured to the Big Apple during 2010 free agency, Wade has come to New York City this week to promote "Court Grip," a product by Mission Athlete Care. For more on that, see his interview with my pal and ESPN New York's own, Jared Zwerling.

Knicks' forward Carmelo Anthony has kept busy despite the lockout with off the court ventures as well. Just after recently teaming up with Wade's Heat teammate Chris Bosh on the small screen for Law & Order: SVU, 'Melo will take to the hardwood with the man himself.

Even with his media tour, Wade is still finding time to train, and is taking advantage of his time in New York, apparently working out with Anthony later tonight.

Certainly the lockout (i.e. not necessarily having your own teammates around as often) gives NBA players an opportunity to go up against different and perhaps tougher competition. Aside from all the charity games he's been involved recently, it'll certainly be more challenging for 'Melo to go head to head with another one of the league's best players in Wade. To be a fly on the wall during such a workout to see how hard the two are able to push each other would be an interesting opportunity.

Though he is coming off two May surgeries, Anthony has looked solid in his most recent charity game outings. Surely, having to keep up with Wade will, nevertheless, be a solid test for the Knicks star to make sure he is in the best shape before the season begins, whenever that may be.

An incredibly crucial meeting between the owners and players union is said to be scheduled for tomorrow.

Carmelo Anthony Had Surgeries To Deal With Lingering Injuries

It's no secret that injuries to some of the Knicks' most talented players slowed the team down during their first round playoff series vs. the Celtics last season.

Amar'e Stoudemire was hampered by a back injury, whereas Chauncey Billups sat out nursing a knee injury. With two of their best players out of commission, it's no surprise the Knicks had a difficult time competing.

Little did fans know that Carmelo Anthony was also dealing with knee and elbow soreness throughout. While the Knicks' chances against the Celtics were slim as it is (without STAT and Billups), should it be concerning that Anthony's injuries, which have apparently been nagging him for much of the past seven years, were effecting him enough to prompt two surgeries?

Not quite. Anthony, playing in a charity basketball game Sunday night in Philadelphia, erupted for 31 points and 17 rebounds, though his team lost.

He seems A-OK now, but that doesn't change the fact that Anthony had arthroscopic surgery on his knee, as well as another procedure on his elbow, sometime in May.

The Knicks had previously announced that Anthony was experiencing pain in his elbow, but never made any announcement concerning either surgery.

The fact that there was no announcement is quite interesting. During the NBA lockout, players are restricted from consulting with team doctors and/or the team itself, so if the surgeries happened more recently, no announcement would have made sense. That being said, May is quite a while beforehand, so it makes me wonder why there was no formal announcement by the Knicks and/or Anthony's camp.

Either way, Anthony's been playing in an abundance of charity games lately, and if he's logging 31 point and 17 rebound type performances, I'd have to think he's looking and feeling pretty healthy and likely benefited from the surgeries.

As fate would have it, Melo's next charity game is likely to reunite him with Stoudemire on the basketball court for the first time since last season ended. The duo will be taking the court along with LeBron James, Chris Paul, and more at Florida International University on October 8th. Former Knicks President Isiah Thomas, who coaches at FIU, is said to have helped organize the game.

Furthermore, Thomas has also been reportedly working out with the likes of STAT and his former Suns teammate, Joe Johnson, on campus as well.

Want more 'Melo? You can catch him on the small screen tonight, not playing basketball, but guest-starring in Law & Order: SVU tonight at 10PM EST on NBC, along with Heat forward Chris Bosh.

Things Not Looking Good for Start of NBA Season?

The NBA and its Players Union met today for five to six hours in Manhattan, with hopes of prolonging the lockout no more, the goal to reach an agreement on a new CBA.

The end result? Things do not look so hot at first glance.

Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver emerged from meetings this afternoon, with nothing to say to reporters. Silver did mention the two sides would meet again next week, though.

Two reporters, The New York Post's Marc Berman and Yahoo!'s Adrian Wajnorowski, have hit the ground running, however, tweeting about the responses, or lack of, for that matter.

Berman tweets: "Meetings have ended after five hours. Stern says will meet next week which is not good sign. If closer they would have met tomorrow."

Berman tweets: "Stern saying he had "no announcement" yet on training camp being postponed sounded like it was coming shortly."

Wajnorowski tweets: "Stern and Silver bailed, offered nothing. You can expect the next step today or tomorrow will be to cancel 1st two weeks of training camp."

Union Chief Billy Hunter and NBPA President Derek Fisher followed Stern and Silver, looking bleak as ever as well.

Berman tweets: "Barely audible Fisher even more downcast than Stern saying wont "guess" on whether season will start on time"

Wajnorowski tweets: "Fisher on season starting on time: "The calender is obviously not our friend."

Wajnorowski tweets: "Clearly, the season isn't starting on time. Any lingering chance of that passed today."

Wajnorowski tweets: "Both sides looked and sounded as glum as ever, far from any solutions. (In case that wasn't clear in the past several tweets)."

Who wins this exciting round of "Tweeter of the Day?"

Mr. Wajnorowski!

In all seriousness, it's a shame the two sides cannot come any closer to an agreement. Waj also did go on to note, though, that the two sides could be giving the media the silent treatment and keeping any signs of progress to themselves.

It's one thing not to want to get people's hopes up through the media, but I simply don't see how it's otherwise in the best interest of the two sides to give off this type of negative vibe following the meeting. Things cannot be good, there.

More on this and any new developments within the next couple of days.

Chauncey Billups Leads Team to Victory at Impact League

The last time Knicks fans saw Chauncey Billups hit the hardwood, it was to watch him limp away off the court (along with the team's playoff hopes) during Game 1 of a first-round playoff matchup with the Celtics.

The injury to Billups (and the one that followed to Amar'e Stoudemire) has not sat well with fans. The excitement around the Knicks was at an all-time high after the team ended a seven year playoff drought. The chemistry level was rising and the Knicks finally seemed to be on the verge of making noise, potentially delivering an upset to an ever-aging and fatigued favorite, the Celtics.

Those hopes, however, crumbled, and the two injuries left everyone wondering what could have been, as well as what is to come.

The NBA lockout forces everyone to wait in vein just a little while longer, but fans can now rest assured that Chauncey Billups has seemed to get his groove back.

Billups, making his highly anticipated appearance in the Impact Basketball League in Las Vegas, exploded back onto the court to lead his team (which also features Knicks Iman Shumpert and Roger Mason Jr.) to a 137-131 victory Tuesday, while draining six three-point field goals on his way to an impressive 38 points.

Though he sat out the fourth quarter of competition due to a tweaked ankle, Billups insists he has conquered the injury that plagued him in the playoffs, telling SI.com's Chris Mannix, "The knee is great, finally. I've been back on the court for [about] three weeks and I'm feeling good. I'm just working myself back in shape now."

What's more, Billups also shares the sentiment with Knicks fans that injuries certainly left much to be desired from the team's playoff run. He went on to add, "When I went down, I was still hoping I'd get back by the end of the series. I ended up being out for four months. "It was frustrating. I thought we could have pushed the Celtics. Hopefully, we get another chance."

Whenever that chance will be, nobody knows. But one thing's for sure; when the NBA season does begin, this Knicks team appears to be hungrier than ever. It's good to see Billups, such an influential veteran and an NBA champion, seemingly ready to take charge to make things happen.

A bit to look forward to, here: when he does in fact don orange and blue again, Billups will be reunited with new assistant coach Mike Woodson, whom coached the Knicks' point guard while the two were paired together on the Pistons.

Billups will certainly embrace the new (or ongoing, depending which way you look at it) desire for a stronger defensive presence in New York. He can actually begin building that foundation now, by giving rookie guard Shumpert some tips while the two spend time together in Vegas.

Knicks Star Carmelo Anthony Meets with President Obama

Carmelo Anthony's busy offseason has most recently taken him from hosting a fashion show in New York City to hearing President Obama's pitch for a tax boost.

Found by my man Tommy Dee via Jared Zwerling, it turns out the President met with 60 wealthy donors (all of whom paid $35,800 to attend the event) to convey the importance of continuing to assist the "ordinary folks" during this tough economic period.

The Knicks' Brooklyn born star was among those whom President Obama reached out to. Anthony has been an outspoken supporter of Obama's since day one, having also shared the hardwood with the President during a charity basketball game, to honor our troops, last year in the national's capitol.

In the past, the President has also shot hoops with NBA players including MVP Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and former Knick Chris Duhon.

This was quite the unique find by Zwerling. While Tommy's focus on "The Knicks Blog" during the lockout has been the CBA and a deeper look into Knicks history, the focus here on Knicks Journal has certainly been keeping up with what the Knicks and other NBA players have been doing with their free time during the lockout. Anthony's meeting with Obama may very well be one of the most interesting findings to date. He clearly understands the measure of influence he has as a star in the Big Apple.

Star of "The Blind Side" Says the Knicks Need to Acquire Chris Paul

Having grown up in Georgia, you may have expected Quinton Aaron, rising star of the critically-acclaimed The Blind Side to favor the Atlanta Hawks as an NBA fan.

Not quite. Aaron, who was in New York City Tuesday night for the “Wills & Walker” fashion show, was beaming when he declared, “I love my Knicks! Gotta go with the Knicks.”

It turns out that after being born in the Bronx, the actor’s basketball loyalties never left the Big Apple.

Ironically enough, the fashion show was hosted by none other than former Hawks star Kevin Willis. The clothing line is catered to men who stand 6’3” and taller. Having rose to fame playing the role of NFL standout Michael Oher, there’s no doubt Aaron fits that mold.

Flanked by adoring fans almost the entire night, Aaron seemed to bask in all of the adoring attention, bear hugging many admirers with a wide grin as he posed for picture after picture.

Seeming like an ideal customer for the clothing line, Aaron was definitely impressed with what he saw. He later added, “I came out here tonight, certainly to support Kevin, but I will definitely be representing the brand, especially by wearing those suits!”

While he took time to support Willis, the former rather physical NBA big man who went to toe-to-toe with the likes of Knicks star Patrick Ewing during his playing days, Aaron also reflected upon how his favorite NBA team is doing today.

The Blind Side star noted, “I love the progress the Knicks have made. Even before Carmelo Anthony came in, this team was doing a lot. Amar'e Stoudemire was doing a good job leading the way. They were just tremendous last year. I feel like the team is ready for extraordinary things. New York finally has its ‘Big Two.’”

Aaron went on to address the ever-popular debate, whether or not the Knicks need to form an official “Big Three” in New York in order to compete with teams like Celtics and the Heat.

He later admitted, “I actually wish the Knicks would have gotten Chris Paul. We’ll see, because they still can make it happen. That’s what I would like, though.”

With a five-time all-star and former NBA Finals MVP in Chauncey Billups running the show, however, isn’t the Knicks’ most pressing need down in the paint? Aaron explained his reasoning, adding, “Chauncey is good, don’t get me wrong. He has that nice jumper. I just don’t think he has the energy or the speed needed to field his position right now.”

Billups’ pace on the court certainly became an interesting topic of conversation last season. Sure, the Knicks crave a big man to play a more physical game down low next to Stoudemire, but it’s obvious that Mike D’Antoni’s offense flows through the point guard. If that offense does not have the quick-paced point guard that it so seemingly requires, can it still be effective? Perhaps the Knicks need more time to gel and build chemistry, but the offense certainly seemed a bit stagnant when replacing the successful Raymond Felton with Billups.

If D’Antoni isn’t able to make adjustments for his team to succeed with an NBA champion running the show, he may be on his way out as head coach of the Knicks, especially with former Hawks coach Mike Woodson recently joining the coaching staff, surely anxious for another opportunity to be the guy at the helm himself.

Nevertheless, Aaron still had high hopes for the team. The Bronx-born star said he felt as though, with time, the Knicks could potentially win a championship with the foundation they have today.

At the same time, knowing a thing or two about athletic big men, having played one on the big screen, the star gushed who would be his dream center to help the team at a time like this, gushing, “They need a guy like Shaq! To have a guy like Shaquille O’Neal, from like 2001, in his prime on the Knicks would be awesome. Definitely.”

A fellow fan can dream, can’t he? Viewers can watch Aaron next on the small screen, this coming Sunday, September 18^th, at 9pm EST as he guests on the legal-comedy Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime.

Iman Shumpert Impressing at Vegas Impact League

Due to the NBA lockout, Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert was not given the opportunity to strut his stuff during the Las Vegas Summer League for the league's younger talents.

That being said, perhaps he's found the next best thing to further his progress.

Shumpert has been participating in the Impact League, also taking place in Vegas, this week. He's been playing well too, in the league that has so far featured the likes of John Wall, Demar Derozan, and Jermaine O'Neal.

The rookie recently logged 26 points and 6 rebounds while leading his squad to victory during day three of the league.

The chance to play against some of the league's better veterans, rather than fellow unproven rookies, is certainly a bigger challenge for Shumpert. While there's not much to go on just yet, Knicks fans should like what they see from him at first glance. Though the team drafted Shumpert for his defense, his hard work is already appreciated and his freakish athleticism should help him thrive in Mike D'Antoni's offense.

Shumpert is absolutely making his first impression with Knicks fans a strong one, even if it isn't too extensive just yet. Between logging a great amount of visible hours in the gym over the summer, and his immediate success in the Impact League, it's safe to say the Knicks rookie is off to a good start.

He hopes to have a chance to begin building strong rapport with some of his new teammates before the NBA season starts as well. Chauncey Billups, Roger Mason Jr., and Shawne Williams are all listed on a roster for the Impact League, but have yet to appear.

If you can't be in Vegas to witness' Shumpert's prowess for yourself, check out the video below featuring some of his thunderous slams and other skills he's been honing this summer.

NBA Star Turned Fashion Designer Kevin Willis Talks New Career and Clothing Line

For NBA athletes, finding a second career following their playing days has come easy in recent years. We’ve seen the usual and predictable transition into broadcasting and/or coaching. Some players have even gone back to school to finish their education in hopes of securing a front office position with one of their former teams.

When someone has been around the game of basketball their entire life, what else is there to do but stay involved in the game?

Former players have taken positions like that time and time again, because quite frankly, some guys just simply aren’t ready to ride into the sunset and enjoy retirement at the ripe age of 40.

That being said, former NBA ironman Kevin Willis (who actually played until he was 44) has assumed a position entirely different than many of his counterparts. His new post-retirement title? Fashion designer.

The bold new career choice is actually not quite as surprising as it may seem. In recent years, NBA players have taken pride in their appearance, honing in on their status as national icons with a more fashion-savvy sense. In fact, New York City welcomed stars like Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Amar’e Stoudemire, who actually launched a clothing line of his own, during Fashion Week in the Big Apple.

Willis hosted a fashion show Tuesday night to introduce the 2012 Spring/Summer collection for his company, “Willis & Walker.” The collection featured an interesting array of different styles, ranging from suave business suits to casual summer wear.

The seven-footer, who holds a degree in fashion and textiles from Michigan State University, talked about how the clothing line began, saying, “The line actually got started many years ago, when I was still playing basketball. I knew that I was passionate about fashion, and wanted to do something because we couldn’t find anything clothing in stores to buy. High-end stores, boutiques, wherever—players couldn’t find anything. My partner and I wanted to start this, as a way of bridging the gap, and that’s how it came to life.”

Willis’ clothes are aimed at providing fashion-conscious men 6’3” and taller (potentially focusing on past and present NBA players) something stylish to wear.

As noted, good fashion is becoming a fast growing trend in the NBA. As an expert in the field, Willis shared who he thought were some of the league’s best-dressed players, saying, “There are so many guys with good fashion. I like Dwight’s style, LeBron’s too. I like Carmelo Anthony, for sure! You can add Josh Smith and Joe Johnson in there as well. Those are guys who simply just know how to dress! That’ll always be very important.”

Willis went on to say that while he had not collaborated with any other NBA players to get the business going, many of his colleagues, NBA counterparts, and friends have been supportive of the brand over the last two years. Furthermore, Sports Illustrated reported just a couple months ago that former NBA big man Shawn Bradley, who stands tall at 7’6”, is a customer of the clothing line.

Willis visits New York City quite a bit, and his new career is sure to continue bringing him back again and again. Since he never got a chance to don orange and blue for the Knicks throughout his luminous career, how does the big man really feel about the Big Apple?

Willis insisted, “Let me tell you something, man. New York City is the best city in the world! I love it. I remember back in 1984 when I was about to be drafted, I was invited to the NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden. Flying in and seeing all those big buildings was just phenomenal. Everytime I come here, it’s awesome. Yes indeed.”

While style is definitely important, clothing is simply not all that makes the man.

Willis, who became the oldest player to appear in multiple games during an NBA regular season for the Mavericks in 2007, looks as though he could still muscle his way through the paint. If you look good, you’ll feel good. Echoing that sentiment, Willis, now 49, talked about his ongoing training, adding, “I like to maintain good fitness and workout, knowing that health is very important. As you get up in age, you definitely want to maintain a good, healthy, spirit and mind.”

With that mentality, Willis is sure to experience more success in life and his new career. He and the fashion show were welcomed by a packed house of supporters, including Quinton Aaron, star of the critically acclaimed film, “The Blind Side,” among others.

NBA Players Are Out and About During Fashion Week

A year ago today, NBA players were less than two weeks away from beginning training camp, catching up with teammates, entertaining questions from the media, and more.

All that will be delayed, however, as the focus today is still making progress on an agreement for a new CBA.

Be it a positive or a negative factor, this extended off-season (otherwise known as the NBA lockout) has given players an opportunity to experience different off-the-court ventures and events.

Take Knicks' captain Amar'e Stoudemire for example. The six-time NBA all-star has reached agreements to work with "Scholastic" on a series of children's books, as well as blog and provide content for a major online sports network.

In addition, he recently announced a new clothing line with fashion designer and business partner Rachel Roy. That is exactly why STAT (along with a number of NBA stars) has been heavily involved in Fashion Week in New York City. His new collaboration debuted this week and will be available to all of the fine females this coming fall.

The Knicks' own Carmelo Anthony, though, has bested STAT, as well as the likes of Dwyane Wade and Chrish Bosh, according to The New York Times' "Off the Runway" blog.

After 'Melo was awarded the "gold star" for his attendance at various runways, "The Basketball Jones" quipped,

"Congratulations to Carmelo Anthony on his first championship since his year at Syracuse. In a fashion-forward league like the NBA, being the guy who went to the most fashion shows during New York Fashion Week is a huge deal. (Not really.) Sources say Chris Bosh was in tears following the crushing loss.

Between Carmelo’s gold star and Amar’e Stoudemire’s women’s line, the Knicks are dominating basketball’s fashion scene. The only concern now is whether of not there are enough shots thimbles to go around."

In any event, fashion seems to be an ever-growing interest of NBA players as of late, and perhaps it's smart for designers to pick up on the players' status as national icons to better promote their own brands. For STAT and 'Melo (and the designers who collaborate with/dress them), there's surely an open door for opportunity to thrive in the heart of New York City.

"Knicks Journal" is going with the flow of this seemingly popular trend. I'll be live tonight at former NBA star Kevin Willis' fashion show to launch his own lifestyle collection (seemingly catered to past and present NBA players) for men 6'3" and taller. Knicks' greats John Starks, Charles Oakley, and NBA commissioner David Stern are scheduled to be in attendance.

Many Knicks Ready to Take Court for Impact Basketball League in Las Vegas

Since the lockout began, there have been a variety of charity games and other competition exhibitions organized that have included NBA players throughout the summer.

But now with the scheduled start of the NBA season growing closer and the lockout still continuing, players are looking for a higher level of competition, and are heading to Las Vegas to get their fix.

No, I'm not talking about the Rookie Summer League; "Impact Basketball," located in Vegas, is assembling up to 70-80 NBA players for a more intense training series.

New York Knicks players Chauncey Billups, Shawne Williams, Roger Mason Jr., Jared Jeffries, and rookies Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrellson are all scheduled to take the court during the competition.

The mix of Knicks participating is an interesting group, to say the least. Shumpert has been working hard all summer in preparation for his rookie year, and seems to be in prime shape, so it's no surprise he'll be there. It's also good to see that Harrellson is looking to see how he matches up to legitimate NBA talent as well.

As a Vice President of the Players Union, Mason Jr. knows that labor talks are ongoing, and that things can change in just a matter of time: he, Williams, and Jeffries are all free agents heading into next season, and will be looking for contracts once an agreement to end the lockout is reached.

Billups, the Knicks' floor general, is perhaps the most surprising player from the group to have joined the league. An NBA champion and multi-time all-star, he is one of the most established participants, and will certainly headline the group in Vegas. He also had to bow out of the Knicks' playoffs series against the Celtics after game one due to an injury. Just recently cleared for basketball activities, Billups' participation could be looked at with optimism or complete caution.

Should he be assuming such physical competition so soon, especially in the off-season, or should Billups be taking it easy at this point? The fact that he is preparing to test himself against some of the NBA's better talent in Vegas could mean that not only is he looking to get better, but also looking to test his healthy body against solid competition. Overall, if he's been cleared to go by a doctor, I say it's a positive thing that Billups is looking for a tune-up (perhaps the best he can get) before the season gets going.

One of the bigger surprises for the Knicks last season, Williams took time to speak with HOOPSWORLD about how he's been preparing for next season, his participation in Impact Basketball's league, and more. Read this great piece by my man Alex Kennedy and check out the clip below.

Will Amar'e Stoudemire Be Ready if NBA Season Starts on Time?

Amar'e Stoudemire's nagging back injury has gone from preventing him from propelling the Knicks into the second round of the playoffs to now limiting his off-season workouts.

The fact that the pain in STAT's back has lingered for so long has certainly been surprising and worrisome to many Knicks fans, but fear not: the Knicks captain is getting ready to rev it up once again.

Speaking to preteens at Polo Grounds Community Center in Harlem about the importance of education, Stoudemire did indeed say he will be beginning more intense workouts this coming Monday, and most definitely would be ready to go if the NBA season were to start on time.

Surely the idea that the season will begin sooner than later is pure optimism at this point, but based on primarily meetings this week, perhaps there is hope.

Nevertheless, the opportunity to rest, be it during the regular off-season or the lockout, has certainly been an aid to Stoudemire. Sources of the New York Daily News asserted that he is only about "90% healthy" and questioned whether or not he would actually be prepared to start the season on time.

Even so, assuming he does not aggravate any old ailments, STAT at 90% makes the Knicks much more fortunate than they happened to be in the postseason.

the 6'10" forward's highly anticipated team workouts are now scheduled to take place in October at IMG Academy in Florida (where Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert has been working out regularly), should the lockout ultimately spill into scheduled team training camp and the start of the regular season.



In the meantime, the $100 million man has stayed consistent in keeping up the pace with a bevy of off-season ventures, including appearing on this past Sunday's episode of HBO's "Entourage," as well as taking part in "Fashion Night Out" on Thursday night in New York City.

Iman Shumpert Has Got Bieber Fever!

Knicks Journal is back! After a weeklong blackout due to Hurricane Irene, the blog is back in action with what's sure to be some exciting things coming up in the near future.

In the meantime, while hoping everyone else enjoyed their Labor Day Weekend, let's take a look at how a couple of the Knicks enjoyed theirs.

Fresh off his interview with Knicks Journal, rookie Iman Shumpert headed up to Atlanta, to play alongside other NBA players and celebrities in a charity basketball game during rapper Ludacris' "LudaDay Weekend."

Also in the mix was Carmelo Anthony. On a perhaps more serious note for Knicks fans, during their time in the ATL, Anthony and Shumpert were able to get in a closer workout together. Shumpert's been working harder than almost anybody this summer with his offseason training, but the opportunity to play with and learn from the Knicks' resident superstar is sure to have been a valuable experience for the rookie.

As far as the charity game itself, Anthony took the court for Team Ludacris, while Shumpert caught "Bieber Fever," and represented the opposing squad, led by teen pop star Justin Bieber. Turns out Melo and Luda's squad couldn't put home court advantage to good use, as they fell short to Shumpert and company.

For a closer look at the game, check out some of the highlights below featuring the likes of NBA stars Kevin Durant, Brandon Jennings, and more.