Carmelo Anthony and buddy LeBron James will share the frontcourt Sunday as teammates for the first time at the Garden when the first All-Star Game in this arena since 1998 tips off.
Foreshadowing of things to come? It's probably a pipe dream, but James did raise eyebrows with remarks Friday about how great it is to play in the Garden.
Anthony wasn't too surprised to hear of James' comment. Asked by The Post what he feels about playing the Garden, James said no offense to Miami or Cleveland fans, but "If I could have 82 regular-season games in the Garden, I would because it's the Mecca of basketball.''
How about 41 regular-season games? On Saturday during the East's open practice, James told the Garden crowd he loves the place "for the history. I'm a little jealous of Melo being the host.''
Of course, James is known to pander to the crowd.
"He's jealous of me?'' Anthony said mockingly. "Don't start nothing with that.''
In December, James spent a night off in New York to sit courtside at the Garden, supporting Anthony.
"I've been able to be alongside him, play with him time in and time out,'' Anthony said. "We go back all the way to high school when we played in the USA youth basketball games in high school and I was at Oak Hill [Academy in Virginia], he was at St. [Vincent's]. I'm pretty sure he'd love to play in New York. I mean, nobody would say they don't want to play in New York. How could you not want to play in this city and in this building?''
Anthony, after gingerly getting through Saturday's Garden practice, said he could just make a cameo on Sunday night, saying he will play "even it's a couple of minutes out there." Anthony has a tendon injury and he likely will shut it down after Sunday, eventually to undergo surgery.
Anthony and James have been Eastern Conference teammates in past All-Star Games and for the 2004, 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Teams. But they never have been teammates in this arena, not even in the McDonald's High School All-Star Game, and certainly not with the Knicks, who will have cap space in 2015 and 2016.
After spurning the Knicks in 2010, Akron's finest will get another chance when he becomes a free agent in 2016 — or 2015, if he pulls a surprise and opts out of his contract.
Anthony will be surrounded Sunday by free agents whom he will try to recruit this summer. He said he decided against giving any pitch this weekend — a wise decision because the Big Apple will turn into the Big Icebox on Sunday, with temperatures potentially dropping to the lowest since 1993.
It will be toasty inside as Anthony teams up with 2015 free agent Paul Millsap, while the West boasts 2015 free-agent big men Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge and 2016 free agent Kevin Durant, who missed both of the Thunder's games against the Knicks this season.
"I just want them to enjoy the weekend, especially those guys who this is their first time participating,'' Anthony said. "Just enjoy the weekend, embrace this moment, have as much fun as you can.''
The East is more nondescript than usual, with four Hawks from conference-leading Atlanta — Millsap, Al Horford, Jeff Teague and late add-on Kyle Korver — and first-timer Kyle Lowry in the starting backcourt.
Kyrie Irving took All-Star MVP honors last season.Photo: NBAE via Getty Images
Kyrie Irving, the only true New York/New Jersey product other than Anthony, has a legit shot at repeating as MVP if the East wins. That is, unless Anthony feels he can get more minutes.
Anthony moved half-speed during the open practice.
"I didn't do too much,'' Anthony said. "I didn't feel much. Just shot around, ran a couple of plays. I didn't feel much but I didn't want to push it.''
There are other storylines, too. West center Marc Gasol tipping off against Pau Gasol — the first time brothers have faced each other in an All-Star Game. And there's Steve Kerr coaching on the Western sidelines with the league's best record while the team he spurned, the Knicks, have the worst (10-43).
But it always comes back to Anthony, the weekend's ambassador playing on a balky knee, ready to shut it down amid criticism it's inappropriate for him to be out there at all.
"That's an honor for me to be able to start in the All-Star Game, on my home court, representing New York, in New York,'' Anthony said. "For one of the biggest events in sports, for me to be that face, I'm honored to be that.''
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