After an illustrious and phenomenal NBA career spanning 19 seasons, Carmelo Anthony, one of the league’s most prolific scorers, has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. This news marks the end of a remarkable NBA run for the legendary forward, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Scoring Prowess and Versatility
Throughout his career, Anthony demonstrated his amazing scoring ability, establishing himself as one of the league’s most versatile offensive players. From his days with the Denver Nuggets through his time with the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and, most recently, the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony has left an indelible mark on the court.
Thank you #STAYME7O pic.twitter.com/4au8cOd13s
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) May 22, 2023
When Anthony was a freshman at Syracuse University in 2003, he won the NCAA basketball championship, marking the beginning of his illustrious career. After being picked third overall by the Nuggets, Anthony had an early impact in the NBA, averaging 21 points per game in his first season. Anthony finished second to LeBron James in the Rookie of the Year voting that year.
Legend. 🍊🏆
Congrats to @carmeloanthony and thank you for the memories. We all look forward to seeing what's next. @Jumpman23 #StayMe7o #CuseFamily pic.twitter.com/3D4rsZPuUR
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) May 22, 2023
Carmelo Anthony’s Stint with the Denver Nuggets and Tensions Arise
From 2003 to 2010, when Anthony was with the Nuggets, they made the postseason every year. During those seven years, he received four All-Star honors and averaged 24.8 points per game while also pulling down 6.3 boards every contest. With Anthony averaging 27.2 points per game, Denver advanced to the 2009 Western Conference Finals, where they met the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Reportedly, tensions between Anthony and the Nuggets grew during the 2010-11 season after Denver was eliminated by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs the year prior. After declining to sign a contract extension, Anthony allegedly asked to be traded. Anthony was born in Brooklyn but relocated to Baltimore when he was eight years old, but Denver finally complied by trading him to his hometown Knicks in a three-team, 13-player deal that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Knicks traded Wilson Chandler to the Nuggets for Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, a first-round selection, two second-round picks, and cash, while then shipped Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph to the Timberwolves for cash. Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams, and Anthony Carter (from Denver), Anthony Carter (from Minnesota), and Corey Brewer (from New York) were all acquired by the Knicks.
Carmelo Anthony’s Journey After the Knicks: From Thunder to Blazers to Lakers
Carmelo Anthony averaged 24.7 points per game and made 7 All-Star teams during his stint with New York. In Anthony’s first three seasons, the Knicks had a winning record and made the playoffs each year. After having disagreements with then-team president Phil Jackson, he requested a trade during the 2017 offseason. In exchange for Carmelo Anthony, the New York Knicks received Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a second-round selection in 2018.
Anthony spent the following five years of his career playing for four different squads. He was only with the Thunder for one season before being sent off to the Rockets. Anthony was moved to the Chicago Bulls in 2012, but the team released him the following year, and he ended up with the Portland Trail Blazers. Anthony joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021 to play with LeBron James after spending the previous two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. He moved past Moses Malone into ninth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring record, and he became the ninth player in NBA history to score 28,000 points.
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