Carmelo Anthony undoubtedly relished putting up 22 points against the Knicks Thursday night in the Thunder's 105-84 victory. But if Anthony had any ill feelings toward his former team, they didn't extend to Kristaps Porzingis.

Now that Anthony is with OKC after spending the past six-plus seasons as the face of the Knicks' franchise, this is Porzingis' team. The 7-3 forward scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the opener, with Anthony and Paul George splitting defensive duties against the big man. 

Afterward, Anthony lavished his former teammate with praise.

“I was happy for him, just to see that he’s ready to take on that role [as team leader],” Anthony said (via the New York Post). “He looked aggressive tonight, looked comfortable.

“This is a big, big year for him. Last year, the year before, he had a couple pieces around [to] shelter him. Even when things weren’t going good for him, I would always take the blame and take the pressure off of him. Now it’s like, ‘You there, you’re the unicorn.’ You’ve got to embrace it, understand what it’s about, whether good or bad, and be ready.”

Porzingis knows he will face more pressure on and off the court this season without Melo around to draw the extra defender, or field the tough media questions.

“I never doubt myself. I never feel I’m not ready for something, even if it’s the most difficult challenge in my life,” Porzingis said. “I had a great experience watching Melo, how he does stuff on and off the court. … We’re going to realize as we go forward how much pressure he took off of everybody and how valuable a player like that actually is.

“It’s going to be more difficult for sure. There’s going to be more attention on me without him.”