Chauncey Billups plans to help convince Carmelo Anthony to stay with the team after he leaves Turkey, where he's currently playing for the United States at the World Championships.

"Everybody knows that I want Melo to be a Nugget, and I would love for me to be a Nugget for the rest of my career and finish with him," Billups said Saturday.

"When I get back (from Turkey), I'm going to try to get back into the situation and hopefully keep Melo back in Denver."

Billups last spoke with Anthony about a month ago.

After that conversation, Billups told FanHouse that Anthony was "doing good" and Billups was "optimistic" about Anthony signing a contract extension with the Nuggets.

Since then, there have been reports of Anthony wanting out of Denver.

"I don't know (since) I haven't talked to him for a while whether things may have changed or may haven't changed," Billups said.

"But I'm still hopeful that he does (sign the extension). But at the same time, it's his life and his situation. He's going to do what's best for him and his family.

"In the NBA, I've seen stranger things, man. Just me being a Nugget right now is strange. Everybody thought I was going to end up being a Piston the rest of my career (before being traded in November 2008 from Detroit to Denver). It's crazy how things work out."