Legendary NBA player Carmelo Anthony officially announced his retirement from the league in May of 2023, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned nearly two decades.
Reflecting on his decision, Anthony shared his thoughts on the matter, stating, “You just knew that they were going in a different direction, cool. So at that point, I’m like … my plan is playing out the way that I wrote it out. To come back to New York, finish it out in New York, have my year. Play. If it’s a good team, I still can play ball, still can help the team out.”
Anthony, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2003 NBA draft, made a name for himself as one of the league’s premier scorers during his first eight seasons with the Denver Nuggets. His move to the New York Knicks in February of 2011 elevated his status to that of a superstar, with Anthony playing a pivotal role in bringing the Knicks back to the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade.
Following his tenure with the Knicks, Anthony went on to play for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Lakers before ultimately deciding to hang up his sneakers. Despite his desire to return to the Knicks, Anthony revealed that he and the organization were not aligned in terms of his potential role with the team.
“They had a spot on the roster that respectfully- the powers that be … We sat down, had a real conversation. ‘Listen, here’s a spot. You could be on the team tomorrow. But this is the spot.’ I said, ‘Nah. Nah. I can’t,'” Anthony explained, shedding light on the circumstances that led to his retirement.
Reflecting on the situation, Anthony expressed his frustration with the lack of clarity he received from the Knicks’ front office regarding his playing time, ultimately leading to the breakdown of a potential reunion. Despite the disappointment, Anthony leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the NBA, having earned 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title, and scoring 28,289 points throughout his career, ranking him 10th on the league’s all-time scoring list. Additionally, he secured three Olympic gold medals representing USA Basketball.
As the basketball world bids farewell to a true legend of the game, Carmelo Anthony’s impact on the sport will not soon be forgotten.
