- NBA legend Carmelo Anthony has announced his retirement from the NBA after 19 years
- Carmelo Anthony was one of the best scorers immersing 28,289 points in his NBA career
- Anthony is a 10-time All-Star NBA player and a six-time All-NBA selection
Carmelo Anthony, a renowned forward who guided Syracuse to an NCAA championship in his solitary college season and enjoyed a 19-year NBA career, officially announced his retirement on Monday. Despite not playing in the NBA this season, Anthony leaves the league as the ninth-highest scorer of all time. Only a select group, including LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, and Shaquille O’Neal, amassed more points than Anthony, who finishes his illustrious career with 28,289 points.
In a heartfelt video message, Anthony expressed his gratitude and bid farewell to the game that brought him purpose and pride, describing his retirement decision as “bittersweet.” His legacy is firmly established, having been recognized as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history, a 10-time All-Star, a former scoring champion, and a six-time All-NBA selection.
While Anthony’s NBA journey never led him to the Finals, with only one appearance in the conference finals alongside Denver against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, he experienced the triumph of becoming a champion. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2003 Final Four, guiding Syracuse to the national championship. Additionally, Anthony contributed to Team USA’s Olympic gold medals in 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London), and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro).
Carmelo Anthony has announced his retirement from the NBA having played in the league for a record 19 years. | PHOTO: Sports Illustrate |
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Jim Boeheim, Anthony’s college coach at Syracuse who has since retired, took to Twitter to extend a warm message of retirement to his former star, expressing his honour in being a part of Anthony’s legendary career and eagerly anticipating what lies ahead for him.
Anthony’s Olympic achievements are unmatched, having played in 31 games across four appearances, the most by any U.S. men’s player in history. His remarkable performance against Nigeria in the 2012 games stands as a record for USA Basketball men, with 37 points, 10 3-pointers, and a perfect 13-for-13 from the foul line against Argentina in 2008.
Despite his retirement from the NBA, Anthony will continue to contribute to international basketball as he serves as one of the ambassadors for the Basketball World Cup, FIBA’s premier event, set to take place this summer in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.
Selected as the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 draft, Anthony was part of a star-studded class that included LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, all destined for Hall of Fame recognition. Anthony himself will soon join them in the prestigious Hall of Fame, as he becomes eligible for the 2026 class. Throughout his 19 seasons in the league, he averaged an impressive 22.5 points per game, primarily representing the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks. Anthony has always spoken highly of his time with the Knicks, cherishing the experience of playing at the iconic Madison Square Garden, a venue that held special significance for him as a Brooklyn-born kid.
During the 2012-13 season, Anthony emerged as the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 28.7 points per game while leading the Knicks to a 54-win season and capturing the Atlantic Division title.
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