There aren’t many NBA players that have the resume that Carmelo Anthony has put together. People dream of being as successful at their craft as he became, as he was one of the most feared scorers not only of his generation but in the history of basketball.
But, as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end eventually. For Anthony, he has officially called it an end to his career. He released a video this morning announcing his retirement from the NBA with a touching tribute to his son, Kiyan, as well, saying it is time for him to carry on the legacy.
Kiyan has some big shoes to fill carrying on the legacy of his father. Carmelo finishes his career 11th all-time in points scored with 28,289. He would have easily finished inside the top 10, likely surpassing Julius Erving at No. 8, had he not seemingly been blackballed from the league near the end of his career.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks & Denver Nuggets Updates
Anthony was released by the Houston Rockets after 10 games in the 2018-19 season. His final appearance was on November 8th, 2019. He would not step back on an NBA court for more than a calendar year as the Portland Trail Blazers signed him and he made his debut with the team on November 19th, 2019.
That is where his career transformed. In his second season with the Trail Blazers, Anthony came off the bench in all but three of his 69 games played. He showcased he was more than capable of not only accepting a different role than he had ever been in but flourishing in it as well.
Anthony’s last two seasons as a scorer with the second unit were successful. He played well with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021-22 season as his improvement in 3-point marksmanship keyed a late-career revival.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks & Denver Nuggets Updates
There is almost no doubt, especially after seeing how he played last season, Anthony could have continued playing in the NBA had a team given him the chance. That chance never came, so he has opted to call it a career, a very decorated one at that.
Anthony is a shoo-in for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA Team member. He was the league scoring champ during the 2012-13 season and was a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks & Denver Nuggets Updates
While he fell short of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the NBA, Anthony is still a champion in multiple regards. He won a National Championship during his single season at Syracuse and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
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