Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd’s bond spans Olympic glory and NBA battles. In 2008, Kidd, the veteran floor general, guided Melo and the Redeem Team to gold in Beijing, so their bond goes way back to the iconic USA Redeem Team. But beyond the golden memories of basketball, there’s always room for more. So, what happens when a basketball icon teams up with a rising powerhouse? You get a collaboration that turns heads.
Well, apart from his basketball achievements, Carmelo Anthony is known to be a passionate philanthropist and social justice advocate. He founded the Carmelo Anthony Foundation to support underserved communities. He has also made his mark in fashion and business, launching a wine label and serving as a voice in sports media. Speaking of the mark he has made in fashion, he has a dedicated apparel line with the brand Roots of Fight. And guess who’s also launching his apparel line with the brand? Jason Kidd!
Recently, on Instagram, Carmelo Anthony and Roots of Fight posted in collaboration. It was a promotion for the banging launch of Campus Legends | Cal Berkeley x Jason Kidd. Carmelo Anthony spoke highly about Jason Kidd in the promotional video. He began by saying, “Sometimes we talk about court vision, the gift of seeing things before they happen. Jason Kidd had the ability to see things unfold from a mile away.” It was only fitting, then, that Roots of Fight chose to honor Kidd’s legendary foresight with a line that pays tribute to where it all started.
Carmelo Anthony then highlighted Kidd’s Bay Area roots. “I want to talk about a Bay Area legend, Oakland born and bred. He could have gone anywhere. He was already selling out the Oakland Coliseum Arena while starring at St. Joe’s. But he could see where he needed to be, at Cal Berkeley, where he was right at home.” Melo’s words celebrated not just Kidd’s genius, but his loyalty to his origins. It’s a sign of how a true legend functions, moving ahead while never forgetting the roots.
Jason Kidd and Carmelo Anthony, key leaders of the legendary 2008 Redeem Team, now see their iconic squad enshrined in basketball immortality as part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class. They will forever be honored to restore Team USA’s dominance with Olympic gold in Beijing. However, that’s not all for Carmelo Anthony, he is also receiving the ultimate individual recognition. The Hall of Fame is inducting Carmelo Anthony not just as a teammate, but as one of the game’s greatest scorers and most decorated Olympians.
Years later, they reunited on the 2012-13 Knicks, where Kidd’s leadership helped Melo secure a scoring title (28.7 PPG). Their gameplay resulted in a 54-win season for the Knicks. Their mutual respect endures now as Hall of Fame-bound legends.
Carmelo Anthony’s words of wisdom beyond business
Carmelo Anthony stood before Syracuse University’s Class of 2025 in the JMA Wireless Dome. The very arena where his legend began. He called it a “full-circle moment.” “Standing here in this Dome, this place, where I once played, sweat, dreamt, won and grew is very surreal for myself,” he said, voice thick with nostalgia. “This building was my launchpad for my life.” The Dome had propelled him from a 2003 NCAA champion to an NBA superstar, entrepreneur, and now Hall of Famer.
Yet 22 years later, he returned not as an athlete but as a guidepost for graduates: “Twenty-two years later, to return here, not in a jersey but on the stage speaking to you, the class of 2025, it feels like life has come all the way around.” Anthony’s message was a call to action. “Take that Orange spirit into the world. Be bold, be kind, be relentless. Live with a purpose. Give back. Honor your roots. Chase your dreams. And don’t be afraid to rewrite the script as you go,” he urged, his words sharp with conviction.
He framed the Dome as both a literal and metaphorical “launch pad” for himself, for the graduates, and soon for his son. Kiyan Anthony will join Syracuse’s basketball program this fall. “But it’s not just about following in my footsteps, it’s about watching him create his own story,” Anthony said, combining pride with a challenge. The 10-time NBA All-Star didn’t shy away from the struggles behind his success. He admitted, “Your path won’t be a straight line, and that’s okay,” while reflecting on his own setbacks.
NY: 2024 Kering For Women Dinner – Arrivals Carmelo Anthony attends the 2024 Kering for Women dinner at The Pool, New York, NY, September 9, 2024. New York NY USA NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xAnthonyxBeharx Editorial use only sipausa_55821797
“You can evolve again and again, as long as you keep chasing what sets your soul on fire.” But his closing plea was about collective uplift. “What’s the point of success if you’re not using it to lift others?” He tied it all back to Syracuse’s ethos. “The Orange spirit is real. It’s grit, it’s passion, it’s pride, it’s knowing how to rise when things get hard. It’s loyalty and it’s heart.” In that moment, Anthony was a living proof of the resilience he preached.
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