Nearly two decades ago, the boys from the “Rockies” of Colorado selected with a Top 5 pick in that June’s NBA Draft a forward who was coming off leading his collegiate squad to the National title. In his nearly two decades in “The Association” this said former Orangemen would go on to finish in the Top 10 in scoring all-time playing for the boys from the “Rockies;” “The Big Apple; “OKC; “H-Town;” “Rip City” and the “City of Angels.” He also etched his name as one of greatest players to ever hoop on the international stage at the Olympics. At the start of this week that said great scorer and Ambassador to our nation in the Olympics called it career.
On Monday, Carmelo Anthony, the former No.
3 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA
selection and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team made his
retirement from the National Basketball Association (NBA) official. He totaled
19 season in the league starting with the Denver Nuggets, who selected him No.
1 overall out of Syracuse University.
In a video announcing his retirement,
Anthony, a Baltimore, MD native said, “I remember the days when I had nothing,
just a ball on the court and a dream of something more. But basketball was my
outlet. My purpose was strong, my communities, the cities I represented with
pride and the fans that supported me along the way. I am forever grateful for
those people and places because they made me Carmelo Anthony.”
He added, “But now the time has come for
me to say goodbye… With this bittersweet goodbye to the NBA, I’m excited about
what the future holds for me.”
In his 19 seasons with the Nuggets, New
York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers,
and Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony finished No. 9 on the NBA’s all-time scoring
list at 28,289 points. Trailing only now Los Angeles Lakers’ perennial All-Star
LeBron James, who was selected No. 1 overall in 2003 draft by essentially his
hometown squad in the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
Karl Malone, the late Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, future Hall of Famer Dirk
Nowitzki, the late Wilt Chamberlin, and current Turner Sports NBA studio
analyst Shaquille O’Neal.
For his 19-year career, Anthony averaged 22.5
points and 6.2 rebounds on 44.7 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from
three-point range.
“Carmelo Anthony is one of the NBA’s all-time greats and ambassadors,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement Monday. “We congratulate him on a remarkable 19-year career and look forward to seeing him in the Hall of Fame.”
Before he set the NBA on fire with his
ability to get buckets at the drop of a hat, Anthony played for the Syracuse
Orangemen and led them to their first NCAA Tournament title in school history.
He averaged in his lone season for the Orangemen 22.2 points and 10 rebounds.
During that year’s March Madness, Anthony led Syracuse in scoring, rebounding,
and minutes played per contest. His 33-point performance against the University
of Texas Longhorns in the Final Four set a single-game NCAA Tournament record
for a freshmen. He followed that up with a double-double of 20 points and 10
boards in the 2003 NCAA Title Game against the University of Kansas Jayhawks
leading a just mentioned the Orangemen to their first championship in school
history and being named that tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
“Legend. Congrats to @carmeloanthony and
thank you for the memories. We all look forward to seeing what’s next,”
Syracuse University said to Anthony on their Twitter page @Cuse_MBB.
That June’s draft, the aforementioned
Nuggets selected Anthony No. 3 overall, right behind James, and Darko Milcic,
who was selected No. 2 overall by the Detroit Pistons. Anthony was selected one
pick ahead of Hall of Famer Chris Bosh by the Toronto Raptors at No. 4 and
soon-to-be Hall of Famer, three-time NBA champion and now member of the
ownership group of the Utah Jazz and host of TBS’ game show “The Cube” Dwyane
Wade at No. 5 overall by the Miami Heat.
Anthony would spend the first eight
seasons of his career with the Nuggets, helping them reach the NBA Playoffs in
each of those eight seasons after an eight-year absence. He averaged 24.8
points and 6.3 boards on 45.9 percent from the field in those eight seasons.
Nuggets All-Time Scoring
Leaders
1) Alex English, 21,645 3) Carmelo Anthony 13,970
2) Dan Issel 14,659 4)
Nikola Jokic 12,054
Anthony ranks in Nuggets history No. 6 in
games played (564); No. 7 in steals (634); No. 9 in rebounds (3,566); No. 3
field goals made (4,989) and No. 2 in field goals attempted (10,877); and No. 3
in made free throws (3,582) and No. 2 in free throws attempted (4,462).
The closet Anthony came to playing for a
title in his NBA career came with the Nuggets alongside former All-Stars in now
Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Kenyon Martin, Sr. in 2009 where
they lost in the Western Conference Finals to the eventual NBA champion Lakers
in six games.
In late February 2011 after months of speculation that Anthony wanted to depart for greener pastures with another NBA team, the Nuggets dealt their perennial All-Star to the Knicks in a three-team deal that included the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Billups, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams in exchange for Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, and Kosta Koufos.
In their first two seasons with Anthony,
the Knicks made the Playoffs but were bounced in the First Round first by the
Celtics in 2011 in a four-game sweep. The next spring, they were ousted in five
games by James, Wade, Bosh, and the eventual NBA champion Heat in five games.
In 2012-13, the Anthony led Knicks, that
had now Indiana Hoosiers head coach Mike Woodson, Hall of Famer and Dallas
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, Martin, Sr., J.R. Smith, Amar’e Stoudemire,
Iman Shumpert, Quentin Richardson, Raymond Felton, and Marcus Camby reached the
Playoffs going 54-28 that season, winning the Atlantic Division title. They
took down the Celtics in the opening-round in six games, but in the East Semis
lost 4-2 in East Semis to the archrival Indiana Pacers.
Anthony, who was born in Brooklyn, NY had
long raved about his time with the Knicks and what it was like to play at
Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
“The Garden. They call it The Mecca for a
reason, Anthony said about MSG in 2014.
Those dreams turned about to be a
nightmare unfortunately for Anthony his remaining years in the “Big Apple” as
the Knicks missed out on the Playoffs as they missed the postseason from
2014-17.
Anthony did have a performance to remember
on Jan. 24, 2014 where he scored a career-high and Knicks’ single-game
franchise scoring record with 62 points to go along with 13 rebounds on 23/35
from the field, including 6/11 from three and 10/10 at the foul line in the
Knicks 125-96 win versus the then Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets).
In his seven seasons with Knicks, Anthony
averaged 24.7 points, and seven rebounds on 36.9 percent from three-point
range. Only Hall of Famers Bernard King (26.5) and Bob McAdoo (26.7) had higher
scoring averages than Anthony.
Anthony finished his Knicks career No. 10
in field goals made (3,627) and No. 9 in field goals attempted (8,195); No. 3
in made threes (762) and attempted (2,067); No. 9 in made free throws (2,170)
and attempted (2,613).
Before the start of 2017-18 NBA season,
Anthony, who after several clashes with then Knicks’ President Phil Jackson
demanded a trade was dealt to the Thunder in exchange for Enes Kanter, now San
Antonio Spurs’ sharp-shooter Doug McDermott and a 2018 Second-Round pick.
Anthony’s team-up with now Los Angeles
Clippers’ perennial All-Star Paul George and 2016-17 Kia MVP Russell Westbrook
produced just a 47-35 record, finishing No. 6 in West and they fell to Utah
Jazz 4-1.
In his lone season with Thunder, Anthony
averaged 16.2 points and 5.8 rebounds on
just 40.4 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three.
On July 25, 2018, Anthony was traded to
the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that also included the Philadelphia
76ers. Five days later, Anthony’s deal was bought out by the Hawks and
subsequently waived.
Anthony on August 13, 2018 signed a
one-year, $2.4 million veteran’s minimum deal to join the Houston Rockets and
perennial All-Stars in now Phoenix Suns lead guard Chris Paul and current 76ers
guard James Harden. Anthony also reunited with head coach with the Knicks Mike
D’Antoni.
The marriage did not last long. Just 10
games to be exact, averaging 13.4 points on 5.4 boards on 40.5 percent from the
floor and 32.8 percent on his triple tries. Back on Nov. 15, 2018 then Rockets
General Manager Daryl Morey, now with the 76ers announced that the team was
“parting ways” with Anthony, who had played just 10 for the franchise, making
two starts.
Morey said that Anthony “accepted every
role” asked by D’Antoni. But that Anthony’s “fit we envisioned when Carmelo
chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized; therefore, we thought it
was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him.
Anthony’s tenure with the Rockets
officially ended on Jan. 22, 2019 when they dealt him to the Chicago Bulls
along with the draft rights to Jon Diebler and undisclosed cash considerations in
exchange for the draft rights to Tadija Dragccevic.
“Future Hall of Famer!! Salute
@carmeloanthony, #StayMe7o,” Paul tweeted @CP3 to his former teammate as well
as with Team USA.
It would be close to a year before Anthony
resurfaced in the NBA signing with the Trail Blazers on a one-year
non-guaranteed deal in the middle of November 2019.
Anthony alongside perennial All-Star Damian
Lillard and then backcourt mate CJ McCollum made the Playoffs in their two
seasons together but were ousted in the First-Round in five and six games
respectively to the eventual NBA champion Lakers in 2020 and ironically enough
the Nuggets.
Anthony in his two seasons in “Rip City”
averaged 14.3 points and 4.6 boards on just 42.5 percent from the floor and
39.9 percent from three.
After a few off-seasons where they
contemplated playing with each other, Anthony and James finally made it happen
in early August 2021 when Anthony signed with the Lakers forming a spectacular
foursome on paper with James, Westbrook, and Anthony Davis.
Injuries and being no cohesiveness
resulted in the Lakers going 33-49 that season and missing the Playoffs. Anthony
in what would be his final season in the NBA averaged 13.3 on 44.1 percent from
the floor and 37.5 percent from three-point range.
James, who has known Anthony since they
were high school rivals Oak Hill Academy versus St. Vincent, St. Mary’s said in
a video tribute to Anthony’s retirement, “You’re one of the greatest players
I’ve ever seen.”
“From the very moment that I saw you at
Colorado Springs at USA Basketball Under 17 all the way to teaming up with you
with the Lakers, man. You’ve always been one of the best I’ve ever seen play.”
“I just want to say congratulations my
brother…Going all the way back to high school sitting outside that hotel, man.
All the way to our battles that we had together…. I’m just so proud of you man
and so bumbled and blessed to be a part of your journey.”
Another former Laker teammate in Isaiah
Thomas said in a tweet that Anthony was one of the “REALIST SUPERSTARS” that
has ever played on the NBA hardwood.
Two-time Kia MVP, NBA champion and
perennial All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks tweeted
@Giannis_An34 thank Anthony for “pushing” him higher and “congratulations” on
his “legendary” career.
Pacers All-Star lead guard Tyrese
Haliburton said in a tweet @TyHailburton22 that his first NBA jersey was Anthony’s
2003 All-Star one, which he had a photo of in that tweet and said that he
wanted cornrows so badly because Anthony had them.
Haliburton also said in that tweet, “One
of the first legends to show me love. Salute to one of the realest!”
Hornets All-Star wing Gordon Hayward in a
tweet @gordonhayward to Anthony, “Enjoy the next chapter!”
Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young in a tweet
@TheTraeYoung said that he “shedded a tear” in hearing about Anthony’s
retirement from basketball adding, “The game will miss you, Legend! Thank you.”
While Anthony never won an NBA title, he
helped Team USA capture Gold in the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, in London
in 2012, and Rio de Janeiro in 2016, totaling 31 total games played in four
appearances for the USA Basketball in the Olympics starting in 2004.
His 37-point performance making 10 triples
against Nigeria set single-game record for Team USA Men’s Basketball. He also
set the single-game record in 2008 against Argentina going 13/13 at the foul
line.
What is next for Anthony? He said during
his retirement address that he is looking forward to watching his son Kiyan,
16, whose mom is actress, TV host and entrepreneur Alani “La La” Vazquez.
“People ask what I believe my legacy is?
It’s not my feats on the court that come to mind, all the awards and praise.
Because my story has always been more than basketball. My legacy, my son…I will
forever continue through you,” Anthony said. “The time has come for you to
carry this torch.”
In 2003, the Denver Nuggets drafted a 19-year-old
from Baltimore, MD named Carmelo Anthony, who came in and helped turn the
Nuggets from a cellar dweller to a Playoff perennial. While he never won in his
lone real chances with the Nuggets or New York Knicks, it was never from a lack
of effort or scoring prowess.
He always brought his best to the court
when needed and never shook of the responsibility of being a leader whether he
did from the from with the Nuggets or Knicks or by example in his lone season
with the Thunder or on the back nine of his career with the Portland Trail
Blazers or Los Angeles Lakers.
On the international stage with Team USA,
there is no one who shined on that stage than Anthony, who was part of that
2004 Olympic squad in Athens, Greece along with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade that
finished an embarrassing third, capturing the bronze after winning Gold the
previous three Olympics. In the years that followed, Anthony, Wade and Bosh led
Team USA to Gold over the next Olympic games.
The other caveat about Anthony’s career,
the draft pick that the Nuggets acquired when they dealt him to the Knicks
ended up being now starting lead guard Jamal Murray, selected No. 7 overall in
2013.
There is without question that the best
No. 15 in the history of the Nuggets is two-time Kia MVP and perennial All-Star
Nikola Jokic. The predeceasing No. 15 in Anthony with his deal is how head
coach Michael Malone’s squad got the player that has them in position to win
their first title in their 47-year NBA history.
As great as Anthony was on the court, his
philanthropic work off the hardwood during his career has been just as
impactful.
Most guys who are able to get out of the
difficult circumstances that Anthony had growing up where he was surrounded by
crime, drugs and one bad influence after another want to find their ticket out
and never return if they can. Anthony returned and through his voice and power
found ways to make things a little better for the youth in his area like
building a community center that bears his name.
Carmelo Anthony in his NBA career did things
both on and off the floor on his terms
and that is how through hard work, dedication, and commitment became one of the
most prolific scorers in NBA history and someone that many of today’s player
looked to growing up and saw what they wanted to work to be.
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