Melo denies farewell tour interest, would be 'at peace' with retiring

Carmelo Anthony refuted his trainer Chris Brickley's suggestion that he's interested in a Dwyane Wade-esque retirement tour this year.

Anthony admitted his future is in doubt after his short tenure with the Houston Rockets last season but said during an appearance on "ESPN's First Take" on Friday that he still deserves a spot in the Association.

"I've never even thought about a farewell tour," Anthony said. "I've thought about this being my last year, but that was at a time when I was really emotionally vulnerable. Now, I feel I still can still play. My peers know I still can play.

"I don't think it's about basketball anymore. I think it's about me as a person willing to accept certain roles on basketball teams. Am I willing to accept certain roles on a basketball team? Yes."

Anthony appeared in just 10 games for the Rockets last season before he was forced to part ways with the team due to his poor fit on the roster. The 10-time All-Star has since failed to find a home but says he would accept the end of his career if it allowed him to move on from constant uncertainty.

"I think I would be at peace. And I say that because right now I'm in limbo," Anthony said. "I wake up every day and I got my same routine, my regimen. Go work out, do this A, B, and C. But if I know that this would be it, I would have to be at peace with that. So I can work on that knowing I won't be in limbo anymore and I can move on to do other things."

Despite questions about his willingness to accept a limited role, Anthony was blunt in professing his interest in making a return in any capacity as long as he's given an opportunity to help a team win games.

The 35-year-old cracked the 20-point plateau three times during his short stint in Houston but ultimately struggled to efficiently score while failing to provide a positive presence on the defensive end.

Anthony remains one of the most prolific scorers over the past two decades, averaging 24 points on 44.9 percent shooting through his 16-year career.