One would think that proper nourishment would be crucial for any professional athlete, given the number of calories they burn on a given night. However, Carmelo Anthony spends a short stretch each season looking to gain “clarity” in his life, as he calls it. That clarity comes in the form of fasting.
“Physically, I’ve been fasting a little bit,” Anthony told the NY Post after the New York Knicks’ 100-87 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday. “I haven’t been eating, but I’m done with it. I’m back eating. I usually do it to get clarity in my life. I’m done now. I can’t do it no more.”
Eating is probably a good thing when you spend 40-plus minutes a night running up and down a basketball court. Aside from the game he missed against the Indiana Pacers last week, Anthony’s play hasn’t seemed to suffer all that much during the fast. He has scored at least 20 points in every contest he’s played in during the month of January, and even topped 38 points three times. Although there was the whole Cheerios incident with Kevin Garnett, so perhaps a lacking diet can help explain Anthony’s lack of patience.
The points have been there, but the shooting has not. Anthony has shot only 34% from the field over his last three games, and he hinted that his inaccuracy could have to do with his energy level.
“It’s a long story, man,” Anthony explained. “I haven’t had a good meal in about two and half weeks. No meats No carbs. So competing at a high level, the body feels depleted. Im going to get some food tonight. I’m going to get the biggest steak I can find.”
If a malnourished Anthony can maintain his scoring average of around 30 points per game, Knicks fans can only hope a proper meal makes their star forward even better. After all, look what eating pizza did for Kobe Bryant’s game.
Chest bump to Deadspin
