Carmelo Anthony: 'It was a risk to avoid shoulder surgery'

Carmelo Anthony has admitted that he took a big risk when he decided not to have surgery on his shoulder at the end of last season.

The 29-year-old played for the New York Knicks with a torn rotator cuff towards the end of the last campaign, but instead of having an operation, he underwent intensive rehab before the pre-season training camp started.

"I'm ecstatic going from a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum to not needing surgery," Anthony told reporters.

"Let me take that back: taking a risk in not taking surgery and letting it heal on its own. I took a huge risk in doing that.

"It meant I had to put more time in the off-season to do what I had to do to get it right."

Anthony was the NBA's leading scorer last season.