LONDON — Not only does Carmelo Anthony have that “royal feeling’’ after meeting with Prince Harry, the prince of the Knicks has a feeling he will make his return Thursday against the Bucks at O2 Arena.
His knee is feeling just royal.
Though the Knicks have listed Anthony as questionable and he raised doubt before the Knicks flew across the pond, Anthony sounded as if he’ll be ready to go after resting his sore left knee for two weeks and the last six games — all blowout losses.
Calling it “an honor,’’ “a beautiful thing” and “a spectacular day,’’ Anthony participated in a graduation ceremony before practice at St. James’s Palace for the Royal Foundation’s “Coach Core’’ academy that develops coaches. Anthony and Prince Harry presided.
Anthony handed the prince, one of Britain’s most visible figures, a blue Knicks No. 15 jersey (Anthony wore No. 15 in Denver and at Syracuse) with “Wales’’ on the back. Melo also gave him his line of athletic shoes.
Anthony admitted that as an entertainer, he feels a responsibility to play in the NBA’s showcase game against the Bucks, who are prohibitive favorites.
“It’s London, man,’’ Anthony said. “We don’t get these chances often. So, for me to be able to push myself and at least get back on the court tomorrow night, I’m looking forward to that. Hopefully I can do that. Once I’m back, it’s not just about London. If I play tomorrow, I’m going to continue playing. It’s a big possibility.’’
Faced with a phalanx of British media, Anthony was in better spirits than he has been in a while as he tries to cope with the Knicks’ 5-35 season. The Knicks will take a 15-game losing streak into Thursday as they hit the season’s midpoint. Anthony hasn’t played since New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles.
He seemed genuinely humbled to have participated with Prince Harry.
“It was an honor, man,’’ Anthony said. “You didn’t know what to expect. To see him and walking in the room together and the kids in there laughing and joking. It was a warm welcome from him to me. It was an honor. I never thought I’d meet the prince.
“It’s royalty. You can feel it. When you come to London, you can feel the royalty. To be right there in front of him, you get that energy and vibe. You get that royal feeling.’’
Anthony is in London for the third time in 2½ years. He has never lost in this city. He was a key member of Team USA that won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. During the Knicks’ 54-28 Atlantic Division title season, the Knicks routed the Pistons in London.
That was just two seasons ago. Only Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Pablo Prigioni remain from that squad, which earned the East’s No. 2 seed.
Bucks coach Jason Kidd was on that club, too. Kidd was credited for overseeing J.R. Smith’s finest season.
“I just passed him the ball,’’ Kidd said. “I thought it was a special team. Through the injuries, being able to win 54 games, make it to the second round, Melo in the voting for MVP, J.R. won Sixth Man, a lot of good things in that season.’’
Now it’s all bad. Phil Jackson’s club owns the league’s worst record, but don’t tell Prince Harry, who told Anthony he may attend Thursday’s game.
“I think it was the mind-set, the feeling was a lot different from a players standpoint, from a team perspective,’’ Anthony said of the 2012-13 Knicks. “It was a lot different. I just remember coming here playing against Detroit. The arena was packed. That whole experience, coming off the momentum we created off the Olympics.’’
Anthony said he hopes one day he’ll be able to look back on this catastrophic season and laugh.
“I’m still standing,’’ Anthony said. “Still standing strong, still being able to sit here and keep a smile on my face and get through this moment. I know it’s a hard moment to enjoy, but I have to get through this and try to enjoy these moments. At the end of the day, you look back on this and say it’s all part of it.’’
Anthony had threatened to rest his knee since a Knicks loss to the Pelicans on Dec. 9. Now he has done it, but who knows how long he’ll last once he returns. There’s a chance Anthony will play through All-Star Weekend in New York and then shut it down for the season.
Anthony has said he could have surgery, but if he does he said he may wait until after the season.
“I think most important is my body is what’s benefiting the most from the rest,’’ Anthony said. “I was able to practice the last couple of days and get a chance to cut, run and feel it out. I felt pretty good comparing it to the time I sat out after New Year’s Day. It felt a little better
