Unlike Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony is eager for the Olympics

If fatigue played a role in Chris Paul’s choosing not to try for the 2016 Olympic Games, something else factored into Carmelo Anthony’s decision.

Losing.

The New York Knicks star says a string of tough NBA seasons has him hungry to play for the U.S. in Rio de Janeiro this summer.

“From a morale standpoint as a player, if you’ve been through the things I’ve been through the past couple of years, you want to feel what that success feels like,” Anthony told reporters. “You want that success.”

The Knicks are about to miss the playoffs for a third-consecutive season.

The 31-year-old Anthony is on the list of finalists for the American team, which will be selected later this year. He previously won two Olympic golds and a bronze dating back to the 2004 Athens Games.

“So the Olympics for me is great timing, especially coming off this season and injuries, and mentally it’s good for me to get out there and feel what that feels like again,” he said.