NBA veteran Carmelo Anthony is no stranger to bizarre excuses for missed games, but Deandre Ayton's icy predicament in Portland took the cake. The Blazers center was ruled out due to an impassable sheet of ice near his home, leaving Anthony both surprised and reminiscing about his own share of curious player absences.

While Anthony acknowledged the harsh Portland winters from his two-season stint with the Blazers, Ayton's ice-related excuse still raised an eyebrow. "Oh, nah, it gets crazy in Portland," Anthony admitted, but the image of a professional athlete trapped by a frozen driveway seemed almost comical.

The 10-time All-Star then dug into his own memory bank, recalling a particularly unbelievable excuse he encountered during his career: a teammate who claimed to have missed a game due to a shower mishap. "Somebody slipped in the shower," Anthony recounted, skepticism dripping from his voice. "I heard it from somebody, saying that they slipped in the shower, but also somebody that was close, on my team, said they slipped in the shower."

Anthony, questioning the logistics of such a slippery situation, joked, "Slipping in the shower is crazy. First of all, what are you doing in the shower to slip in the shower? Why are you doing that much movement in the shower? Just stand."

Despite the humor of the situation, Ayton's absence highlighted his importance to the struggling Blazers. His return is expected Friday against the Pacers, marking a potential turning point for the team that sits at 11-29. With Ayton back on the court, their 6-18 record with him may improve, offering a much-needed boost to their playoff hopes.

So, while Ayton's ice sheet excuse may be one for the NBA's "strangest excuses" collection, it also reminds us of the sometimes-unconventional lives of professional athletes and the unexpected obstacles that can come their way. And for Carmelo Anthony, it's just another chapter in his long and entertaining journey through the world of basketball, filled with ice sheets, slippery showers, and countless other stories waiting to be told.