I'm gonna be honest with your case.

It's hard.

Thio kind of reflect on all of that right now at this at this moment, Um, you know, it takes some take a couple days to kind of just have opportunity Thio decompressing reflect back on this season, Um, with that being said, being able to, you know, have another opportunity at this game.

Um, you know, Portland, you know, if you want to say revive is the word, but allowing me to come come in and just be myself and be who I am and you know, do what I do best, you know?

So I will always be appreciative of that, Uh, being on this team, I've learned a lot, you know, being out the game for a year, then coming back and really having a different perspective on things and a different appreciation, but also a different energy.

Um, you know, that time I forced me toe tap into something else, dig deep in the well from a mental standpoint to be able to come out here and handle What?

Um, this experience was about Next question is coming from Dwight Jaynes with NBC Sports Northwest.

Mel, you feel like you want to play again next year?

Oh, man, you gotta ask that question.

Yeah, that's not even that's That's not even, uh, you know, something that I'm considering not doing you know, in my mind in my mind is I'll be right back.

I'll be right back in the fray of things.

When whenever that next season coming.

Next question is coming from Aaron Interest with four billion Carmelo year career, overlapped a little bit there with froth for for a brief stint.

Think early earlier when I first came into the NBA that I think around three was, you know, he was kind on his way out.

Um, you know, finishing up his career.

But just being a student of the game and knowing what he brought to the game, um, you know, remembering those times for him with the blazers as a kid growing up, um, wearing the headband, you know, it was something I was always intrigued by.

He was a guy that kind of, you know, set that tone from that standpoint.

As you could see.

Uh, you know, I've been went ahead, been as far as I could remember.

So you know, he would.

He would never be forgotten for what he brought to the game.

His approach to the game.

Uh, and just what he brought to the city of Portland and the and the Portland organization.

Next question is coming from Jason quick with athletic.

Well, what what type of things were you value when it comes time to make a decision where you play next year?

I pray that I could it could be Portland.

Uh, honestly, you know, I think that I found the home in Portland.

You know, I got comfortable with the organization.

I got comfortable with the guys on the team.

They got comfortable with me on and at this point in my career, Uh, I do think that that's the best fit for me.

The best situation, especially having this experience now and kind of just get my feet wet and just coming in and just being who I am staying true to myself, I really hope that it could be, you know, Portland at at the end of the day where ah, you know, we We give ourselves a chance to keep this team together.

Get guys healthy on get another run at it.

Next.

Questions from Agent court 0.6 News.

Hey, Carmela.

So one of the things that you've talked about is just how much you enjoy investing in the younger generation of NBA players.

I'm wondering what it meant to you to be able to do that in such a setting as the bubble for you guys air together all the time and especially in the last three days, talking about things that are much bigger than basketball.

How much does it definitely was.

Uh, it was It was fun.

It was an investment.

Um, a mental investment in a new emotional investment coming down here to the bubble.

You know, being around guys, being around the team, my teammates getting to know them on a personal level, You know, when you when you plan through the season, you know, everybody played, go home.

You know, they they around their family.

But things bubble.

This campus forced us toe, you know, spend a lot of time together and get to know one another.

Um, and I would never I would never forget this experience.

The next question is coming from a Nello Rodriguez with TV Borges from Puerto Rico.

Melo, What words do you have for other people that doubted yourself coming back?

And how active are you going to be after the bubble?

You being very active in the island of Puerto Rico?

Well, the first question I don't really have anything to say to those people.

I've always stay true to myself.

Believed in myself.

Uh, know who I am?

Uh, and you know, a lot of times when you good things happen to those who stay true to themselves and I'm experiencing that I'm a prime example of that.

So a Zilong as I always stay true to myself, I feel like good things happen.

And in the midst of being true to myself, um, Portland came, which was Ah, a great thing for me.

Uh, a great thing for the organization.

Just a great time All the way around in regards to after this and Puerto Rico is I'll be there.

Um, you know, I'll be there soon.

Um, you know, continuing my work, you know, in the communities and doing what I have to do to bring awareness back to the to the island and things that's going on.

So that's a That's an ongoing thing that that work never stops ringing for me, earn our no questions coming from Jason quick with wedding fellow town faculty and has said that you would like to come back to Portland.

How much have you thought about that?

Is that just kind of a passing thought that has recently come into your mind?

Or if you've been feeling that for a while and and if you could elaborate more on why you think this is such a good E?

I think you got saw it.

Why?

Why?

This is a good fit for me.

Whenever you find a situation that is comfortable, um, and and allow you to be who you are, Um, you want to stay in that situation and there's no need to try different things when something is working.

So, um, I've is something that I haven't thought about.

Um, actually, even now, there's something I haven't even I'm not even thinking about that, Um, when it happens, it happens.

If it happens, it happens.

But it's something that I consider myself already coming back so it's not even something I've thought about.

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