Porzingis: Anthony deserves warm welcome at Madison Square Garden

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The New York Knicks will Saturday host the Oklahoma City Thunder in what will be Carmelo Anthony's first trip back to Madison Square Garden, and current Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis said the city and fans ought to greet Anthony with a warm welcome.

"I think he was as professional as he can be in his time here in New York, so I don't see why they would not receive him with love," Porzingis was quoted as saying by ESPN on Friday.

Anthony was traded to Thunder in late September as the team went all-in on a run for a championship this season. But after Anthony left New York, the Knicks' start to the season has surpassed that of most experts, storming to top eight in eastern conference. Porzingis was quick to refute talk that the Knicks' success has anything to do with being separated from Anthony.

"Not at all. He was here for a long time. For him, it was also hard," said Porzingis. "He was trying to do the right things to win, but it was just not clicking. It was not the right pieces around him to make that happen. I know he wants to win."