It’s hard to believe that 19-years has passed since Carmelo “Melo” Anthony entered the NBA. The former Syracuse star led the Orangemen to a NCAA Championship in 2003.
In a social media post, Carmelo announced his retirement Monday morning. To say most of the sports world is shocked by the announcement, we do understand. Over his 19-year long career, Carmelo averaged an astonishing 22.5 points a game on 45% shooting with 36% from along the 3-point line. In addition, Melo accounted for 6 boards, and 3 assists per game. Although drafted with the 3rd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, it was the Big Apple where Carmelo really shined. After seven years with the Nuggets, Carmelo was traded to the New York Knicks in 2011 as part of a 12-player deal, and boy did it play off.
In the 2012 season, the Knicks made the playoffs as the 3rd seed with a 54-28 record. The 2012-2013 season was the first time since 1999 that the Knicks were considered relevant in the race for a NBA title. With Carmelo Anthony at the helm, the Knicks never quite made it to the Finals, but were returned to prominence with an excitement Madison Square Garden hadn’t seen in a while.
Throughout the seven years spent with the Knicks, Carmelo was named to the NBA All-Star team each year, and a total of 12 times in his 19-year career. After nearly 2 decades, the future Hall of Famer will end his career as the 9th-ranked scorer with 28,289 points. In addition, Carmelo will cap off his career as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history with three Olympic gold medals, a NCAA National Championship, six-time All-NBA selections, a scoring championship and Outstanding Player in the 2003 Final Four. I think it’s a sure-fire conclusion that Carmelo Anthony will be a first ballot HOF inductee.
Carmelo played for six NBA franchises, the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, and lastly, the Los Angeles Lakers. Carmelo Anthony will officially end his career as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Carmelo last played in the 2021-2022 season as a primary scorer off the bench. Although the last uniform Melo wore in the NBA was a Lakers jersey, the Brooklyn baller’s heart bleeds true for the New York Knicks!
One thing is for certain, We’re all going to miss you “Melo”
The time has come for me to say goodbye to the court where I made my name, to the game that gave me purpose and pride,” Anthony said in a video announcement. “With this bittersweet goodbye to the NBA, I am excited about what the future holds for me. When people ask what I believe my legacy is, it’s not my feats on the court that come to mind, nor the awards or praise, because my story has always been more than basketball,”
Carmelo Anthony
