Basketball has always been a sport that has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. From the NBA to college basketball, people love watching this game and cheering on their favorite players.
One of the most inspiring stories in the history of basketball is that of Carmelo Anthony. Despite growing up in a tough environment, he managed to overcome the obstacles in his life and become one of the most successful basketball players in the world.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at Carmelo Anthony’s journey from his childhood to his incredible college run and up to his retirement from the NBA. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by the incredible story of Carmelo Anthony.
Carmelo Anthony: Early Life And Basketball Career Beginnings
Carmelo Anthony was born on May 29, 1984, in Brooklyn, New York; he grew up in the Red Hook housing projects. When Anthony was just two years old, his father, Carmelo Iriarte, died of liver failure. This put a strain on his mother, Mary Anthony, who now had to take care of Anthony and his three older siblings.
When Anthony was eight, the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and things didn’t get easier for the young Melo. Baltimore was tough, the streets were overrun with drugs and gangs, but Anthony found a solution to avoid such troubles: basketball.
Anthony’s basketball talents were evident at a young age, but this didn’t prevent him from being cut from his high school team as a freshman. Anthony turned this failure into a positive, as he worked harder than ever to improve his game and improve it did.
He played for the Towson Catholic High School basketball team in his sophomore and junior year. Here Anthony was named Baltimore’s County Player of the Year, All-Metropolitan Player of the Year, and Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year during his junior year.
In his senior year, Anthony transferred to the famous Oak Hill Academy, where he continued to excel on the court, averaging 21.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. This includes defeating LeBron James and his St. Vincent-St. Mary High School 72-66 in a highly-anticipated game. Anthony dropped a stat line of 34 points and 11 rebounds.
Anthony went on to be named to the USA Today All-USA First Team and Parade First-Team All-American. After scoring a game-high 27 points in the Jordan Brand Classic, Anthony went on to score 19 in the 2002 McDonald’s All-American Game while also winning the Sprite Slam Jam dunk contest.
The next stop for Anthony was college, and he decided to attend Syracuse. It would be at Syracuse where the world would start to take notice of Carmelo Anthony.
College Basketball Star At Syracuse University
As a freshman, he led the Syracuse Orange to their first NCAA championship in 2003, earning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. He was also named Big East Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Big East.
Anthony’s impressive performance in the tournament included a 33-point outburst in the Final Four against Texas. In the title game against Kansas, Anthony scored 20 points while adding 10 Rebounds. Syracuse won 81-78.
Anthony’s college career was a showcase of his natural scoring ability, as he averaged 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as a freshman. He quickly became a fan favorite, not only for his on-court talent but also for his humble personality and genuine love for the game.
Anthony’s success at Syracuse led him to declare for the 2003 NBA draft, where he was selected third overall by the Denver Nuggets. His college career not only prepared him for the NBA but also showcased his potential as a future superstar.
Without a doubt, Anthony’s time at Syracuse University laid the foundation for his remarkable success in the NBA and made him a household name in basketball.
Melo’s NBA Career
Carmelo Anthony entered the NBA with a chip on his shoulder. The Cleveland Cavaliers took LeBron James with the first overall pick, which was expected. The problem was the Detroit Pistons, who had the second pick, decided to pass on Anthony and selected Darko Miličić.
Anthony wanted to prove to the Pistons that they made the wrong choice. He ended up playing for the Nuggets, and he had an incredible season. He averaged 21.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Many fans and analysts alike believed Anthony should have won the Rookie of the Year award, especially after he led the Nuggets to a 43-39 record and a spot in the playoffs as the eighth seed. The award was given to LeBron James, who had a great season as well, but his Cavaliers failed to reach the playoffs with a 35-47 record.
In his first postseason, Anthony averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, but he did struggle to shoot, only connecting on 32.8% of his field goals. Still, Anthony got a taste of the playoffs in the NBA.
Anthony continued to thrive in the following seasons, making multiple All-Star Game appearances and earning All-NBA honors.
However, despite Anthony’s individual success, the Nuggets were only able to advance past the first round of the playoffs once during his tenure with the team.
The Nuggets got past the first round and reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2008-09 season. In the Conference Finals, Anthony squared off against the late great Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers.
Anthony had a great series, putting up 27.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists a game. This includes leading both teams in scoring with 34 in the Nuggets’ 106-103 Game 2 victory.
On February 22, 2011, Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks, where he would continue to make his mark on the league and cement his status as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. Anthony would win the only scoring title of his career with the Knicks in the 2012-13 season when he averaged 28.7 points per game.
One of Anthony’s most impressive feats was during the 2012-13 season when he scored 50 points in a 102–90 victory over the Miami Heat. What made this performance even more special was that Anthony became the first player in NBA history to score at least 50 points with no made buckets in the paint.
Then, in the 2013-14 season, Anthony made more history. Anthony broke the New York Knicks franchise record for most points scored in a single game with a staggering 62 points. This was a historic moment for both Anthony and the Knicks, cementing his name in the record books forever.
Anthony would spend seven years with the Knicks before demanding a trade before the 2017-18 season. Since then, Anthony bounced around on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and finally, a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021-22 season… This proved to be Anthony’s last season.
After the 2021-22 season, the Lakers decided not to resign Anthony, and he sat around the 2021-22 season, looking for a new team, but none called. On May 22, 2023, Anthony officially retired from the NBA after 19 seasons in the league.
Carmelo Anthony retired as a 10x NBA All-Star and 6x All-NBA selection, the 2012-13 scoring champion, and a member of the NBA 7th Anniversary Team. Anthony finished his career with averages of 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while finishing with 28,289 career points scored.
Anthony’s NBA career is certainly impressive, but his Team USA career might just be better.
Carmelo Anthony: Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Carmelo Anthony never won an NBA championship, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a champion. On top of his NCAA title, Melo won three gold medals in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
In the 2012 London Olympics, Anthony scored a record 37 points against Nigeria while setting the record with 10 made three-pointers. Overall, Anthony shot 13-16 from the field and 10-12 from three.
All together, Anthony has had maybe the greatest Team USA career by any player. He won three Olympic gold medals, one Olympic bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics, a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in 2007, and a bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
Anthony has the second most points scored in Team USA history with 336 career points and finished with a career average of 10.8 points per game.
Anthony’s commitment and dedication to the sport have been evident in every game he has played. This is especially evident in his Olympic performances, where he consistently delivered and led the team to victory.
His passion for basketball and desire to represent his country on the global stage has been a huge inspiration to many aspiring basketball players.
The Olympic gold medals he earned are not only a testament to his talent but also a symbol of his hard work and perseverance. It is a reminder that with dedication and commitment, anyone can achieve their dreams, even those from humble beginnings like Carmelo Anthony.
