MILWAUKEE – In the aftermath of Dirk Nowitzki’s milestone achievement, Carmelo Anthony has set a goal of playing 20 seasons.
Nowitzki, the Mavericks star, entered the 30,000-point club Tuesday and has said he plans on playing one more season, making it an even 20.
Anthony, who is set to return to the Knicks lineup Wednesday against the Bucks after resting a sore left knee, wants to match the German forward’s longevity – which would give him a shot at 30,000 points, too.
Anthony, currently in his 14th NBA season, would be 38 — nearly 39 — if he plays six more seasons. Good luck with that, Melo.
“I would love to get 20 in, I could do 20,’’ Anthony said Wednesday at the shootaround at Bradley Center. “I could do 20. I’ve done a great job taking care of my body. I’ll continue doing that. No severe injuries. I can see myself going for 20.’’
Anthony also is heading for some milestones. He’s 34 points from being the seventh Knick to hit 10,000 points with the franchise. He’s 64 points shy of 24,000 overall – in 30th place all time and closing in on No. 29 Allen Iverson.
Anthony, only two years removed from major surgery to repair a patellar tendon tear, would have to change his game into a role player in his final years and likely would be plying his trade outside of New York. (Anthony has two years left on his pact, but his feud with Phil Jackson could result in a divorce this summer.)
Anthony would need to average roughly 1,000 points over six more seasons — 15 points per game over 67 games, say — to hit 30K. If he plays five more seasons, that number rises to 1,200 (17 ppg, 70 games); if it’s four more seasons, 1,500 per year (20 ppg, 75 games).
“At that point, you don’t know what you can do or can’t do,’’ Anthony said. “I’m not going to try to what I can’t do.’’
The respect Anthony has for Nowitzki, who ranks sixth all time in points, is substantial.
“Dirk been doing it year and year out, even with injuries – backs, legs,’’ Anthony said. “At 38, he’s still able to get his shot off. That’s impressive for me to watch that. You have to be able to do that to understand.
“Thirty thousand is very, very impressive from anybody – more importantly from Dirk at this time of his career. That’s major.’’
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek credited Nowitzki because he’s always been the featured guy in Dallas facing double coverages at times. Hornacek said it wasn’t until he got to Philadelphia, where he was the No. 1 scoring option, that he understood how difficult that role is.
“When I was the guy, every time I got by somebody, someone else would be waiting there — oh my goodness,’’ Hornacek said. “The star players that get doubled, the scheme that teams run to stop them and slow them down, to put that many points up year after year, game after game is something else.
“The star guys, that’s what Carmelo’s done,’’ Hornacek added. “Those guys have to get fouls, too, and have a unique offensive ability. Those guys can pass it, too – that keeps the defense honest.’’
As the Knicks season winds down to the final 18 games, with the playoffs a major long shot, Anthony wants to keep going. He’s missed just two of the first 64 games. However, he pointed out things could change in April.
“I would love to just play games and keep in flow and rhythm,’’ Anthony said. “If they feel at that point statistically we’re out of it, we’ll talk about that. But I’m not thinking about it.’’