“I remember the days when I had nothing. Just a ball on the court and a dream of something more. But basketball was my outlet,” Carmelo Anthony said, opening up as he announced his retirement on X. Carmelo Anthony’s career pretty much speaks for itself. Nineteen seasons, six teams—including the Nuggets and Knicks—and over 1,260 games where he averaged 22.5 points! Now, after a legendary career packed with NBA highlights, analyst gigs, and countless accolades, Melo stands on the edge of the Hall of Fame. It’s wild to think how far he’s come, from those humble beginnings to having everything a basketball player could ever ask for. But what’s running at the back of his mind as D-Day nears?
Not to forget, he made it to 10 All-Star games, proving time and again he belonged among the league’s best. On top of that, Melo’s got three Olympic gold medals from Beijing, London, and Rio, plus a bronze from Athens. He’s one of the NBA’s top 10 all-time scorers—a true legend. With a career like that, you can’t help but wonder: when Melo walks into the Hall of Fame, will he get emotional?
When asked if his Hall of Fame speech was ready, Carmelo smiled and said on Podcast P with Paul George, “Not yet. I am [working on it]. Working on my penmanship.” Then, with a mix of humor and heartfelt honesty, he admitted when he asked that if he would cry while giving his speech, “If I get up, if I dig it out, I’m a bad m———–, but I got to. This is it, champ. This is where I can do no more for basketball, me personally.” The weight of his journey settled in as he reflected on his legacy: “So I’m taking that and putting that in the basketball heavens. There’s nothing that anybody can touch, say, or do to go against that. No matter what, no matter how you feel, it all comes back to that.”
Carmelo Anthony’s words carried a deep sense of fulfillment. “One word that comes to mind is satisfied,” he said simply on the podcast. “I went through 32 years of just learning how to play basketball, developing, getting better, stamping a stone, mastering my craft. When you hit that mastery of craft, my man, it’s there. There’s nothing else I can do.” In that moment, you could feel the quiet power of a career complete—a man who had given everything to the game and could finally rest in the peace of knowing he left it all on the court.
Feb 26, 2010; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony (15) high fives fans as he walks off the court at the end of the second half against the Detroit Pistons at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Pistons 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Melo made it clear that the Hall of Fame means the world to him, and there’s no doubt he’ll shed some tears during his speech. But beyond the emotions, there’s another big question on everyone’s mind—who will walk him into the Hall?
Who will walk Carmelo Anthony to the Hall of Fame stage?
When it came time to choose who would present him at the Hall of Fame, Carmelo Anthony didn’t hesitate to go big. Instead of settling for one person to introduce him, he wanted three legends—each representing a different chapter of his journey. “My life was impacted by more than one person,” he explained. “So now I need three. That’d be a crazy three, though.”
First up? Michael Jordan. Melo didn’t just grow up idolizing MJ—he was mentored by him. “I was inspired by MJ. Not only from a basketball standpoint, inspired. As a Hall of Famer, seeing something in me as an 18-19-year-old kid saying one day he can be a Hall of Famer, that’s major. So I got to have him in me.”
Then there’s Allen Iverson, the cultural icon who did more than just hoop—he shifted the game. Melo’s respect for AI goes deep. They weren’t just teammates on the Nuggets; Iverson’s swagger, grit, and authenticity shaped Melo’s own approach to the league. “You have AI, who impacted my whole professional career. We all know the impact that AI had on us. We can relate to that. Product of environments, still going out there doing what you got to do.” The two formed a short-lived but memorable duo in Denver, making the playoffs twice but never quite breaking through. Still, the bond they shared left a mark that went far beyond wins and losses.
And of course, the third? His brother and draft classmate, Dwyane Wade. “Then, also you got my brother, D-Wade, who’s in there. You better be right here. You know what I’m saying?” Melo said with a grin. The two came up together in that legendary 2003 draft class and later joined forces on the iconic 2008 Redeem Team. Wade already got his Hall of Fame moment, but now it’s Melo’s turn, and he wants his brother standing beside him.
But the conversation didn’t come without some controversy. Fans quickly noticed LeBron James was missing from Melo’s list, sparking plenty of questions and debates online. With LeBron’s name often included in every GOAT discussion, his absence stood out. Still, Melo’s big night in September will be unforgettable, as he gets inducted twice—once as an individual for his incredible career, and again as part of the legendary 2008 “Redeem Team.” When he walks up to that podium, it’ll be with the three legends who truly shaped his story, making the moment as meaningful as the journey itself.
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