The inevitable has come to pass for the New York Knicks after it was confirmed that Carmelo Anthony's left knee injury is severe enough to require surgery, which could rule him out for up to six months.

A Tweet from the Knicks on Wednesday which quoted coach Phil Jackson said: "What we're finding out from medical, on-court, it could be 4-6 months."

Anthony's surgery will include a left knee patella tendon debridement and repair, the team announced. 

The 30-year-old has had chronic knee pain throughout the season and tweaked his knee again during the Knicks' game against the Miami Heat on February 9.

He went on to play in the NBA All-Star Game, but said that he would probably call time on his season after that.

The Knicks forward is only into his first year of a five-year, $124million contract.

The team is in the midst of an abysmal year with a 10-43 record, and Anthony's absence will only compound the Knicks' woes.