From Stop Snitching to all his interviews as a Knick, Melo always sounds like a self-centered doofus. Maybe that confidence has helped him but it's a mentality that also hurt him (a lost season at age 34). Melo had a nice season but was kind of erratic. 3rd best 3-Pt shooting season of his career, on less volume. A nice feel-good comeback story. Give Melo credit for staying in shape and keeping his mind ready.
But the just because I don't start doesn't make me a "starter" just sounds dumb. It's not always the sentiment, but how he expresses it.
He could simply say, I'm fine coming off the bench, and I'm going to approach it with a starter's mentality.
Also, that interview is classic Melo wherein as he goes on, he contradicts himself.
So he starts off saying he's reconciled with coming off the bench, then winds up saying he's still considering himself a starter. A very weird thought process/ speaking style.