Anthony discusses hitting rock bottom:
Returning to the Uninterrupted podcast Anthony commented on how this period was one in which he felt like his career had hit rock bottom. No team wanted to take a chance on him after Houston released him. Days turned into weeks and passed into months with Anthony never being picked up.
Then the offseason came and went and as November passed the mid-way point he remained sidelined this season. The Syracuse alum began to wonder if he’d played his final NBA game.
Asked about how he dealt with that period and what was on his mind Anthony detailed the depths he reached and how he had to go to a place mentally he never had prior. Part of what he said was:
"“Man, it’s been, I think now, I don’t want to say satisfied, but this is a chapter in my life right now if I ever write a book this would be – – this chapter would be highlighted. of my life” … I’m just going to give you a four-year span in the quick sense. I go from New York making the All-Star Game averaging 22, 23 in the Eastern Conference dealing with everything I was dealing with.” … Getting traded the day before Media Day to OKC — actually really liking it but didn’t work out for whatever reason. To — going to Houston the following year to play in nine games right? The first time I’ve ever come off the bench in 15 years — ever. That was an adjustment for me. Leading to having a year off. A year off trying to rebuild myself, mentally, emotionally spiritually. … “I hit rock bottom emotionally, and I had to build myself back up — basically by myself — to get here where I’m at today to be able to tell this story.” This season will always be one of the highlights of my story.”"
For the sections I didn’t transcribe, you can view the video in its entirety here, and this section of the conversation begins at 44:47.