GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony acknowledged on Monday that he will likely need surgery to repair his injured left knee.
"I'm pretty sure at some point that's going to be my only option," Anthony said after the team's afternoon practice. "But until that time I can't sit out. ... I feel like if I can go out there and play some more and continue to play, then I'm going to do that. I'm pretty sure there will come a time where I have to make that decision to sit out and take the proper procedure and get what I need to be done."
Anthony has missed the past six games due to soreness in his left knee. He hopes to return to the court on Thursday for the Knicks' game in London against the Milwaukee Bucks, but his status is uncertain at this point.
Anthony has dealt with soreness in his left knee since the second game of the season. He said earlier this month that he has undergone two MRIs and other testing to determine the best course of action. He'd hoped to avoid surgery but sounds resigned to the idea that he will need it to repair the injury. It is unclear how long Anthony would be sidelined if he had surgery.
It is also unclear at this point when Anthony, who is in the first year of a five-year, $124 million contract, would undergo surgery.
Knicks president Phil Jackson said on Saturday that it was important to Anthony that he play in the London game this week and the All-Star Game, which will be held at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 15.
"He wants to really try it again and see where he's going to be at," Jackson said. " ... He sees possibilities of helping the team get back and be better."
The Knicks (5-35) are in the midst of a lost season. They have lost a franchise-record 15 straight games and 25 of their past 26. Anthony was asked on Monday why it is important for him to a play for a team that has no chance of making the playoffs.
"The easiest thing for me to do right now is just to call it quits and just give up and say I'm going to go take care of what I need to take care of right now," he said. "But I want to be out there with these guys, with my teammates, regardless of what's our record, regardless of how we're struggling on the court. I feel like if I have an opportunity to go play I'm going to go play."
After the season, Jackson hopes to rebuild the Knicks through the draft and free agency. New York is projected to have approximately $25 million in cap space to spend on free agents this summer. Anthony said he wants to be involved in recruiting potential free agents to the Knicks.
"I want to be a part of what's going on. This is my future. This is why I wanted to come back and to be part of that plan. I want to be part of the plan," he said.