Phil Jackson has said that Carmelo Anthony has had to carry a "big load" for the New York Knicks this season.
The forward, who is due to become a free agent at the end of the season, has been the team's leading points scorer in the 2013-14 campaign, averaging 28 points per game.
The team's recently-appointed president told ESPN: "We've had a couple occasions to talk. We haven't really delved into the future as much as what's gone on, getting to know each other type of thing. Trying to see how he's feeling about playing.
"He's had to carry a big load. It's been a tough year for him. But it's been a tough year for everyone. It's not just isolated with him. But I think he feels the weight of it a lot more on himself.
"When Carmelo had to carry the load in scoring, a lot of times on his own back, and other people weren't stepping into helping him carry that load, which Amar'e [Stoudemire] and JR [Smith] have done, it could be a struggle. But now they have more than one option out there on the floor, and I think that we'll give teams trouble."
The Knicks currently occupy the final playoff place in the Eastern Conference.
Sian Cowper
