LOS ANGELES – Carmelo Anthony, the former New York Knicks star and one of the greatest scorers in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, announced his retirement on Monday, calling the farewell after 19 seasons “bittersweet”.
The 38-year-old last played in April 2022 as a reserve for the Los Angeles Lakers and spent the final few seasons of his career in more limited roles.
“Now the time has come for me to say goodbye, to the court where I made my name, to the game that gave me purpose and pride,” he said, in a glossily produced video posted to social networks.
“I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on the court and a dream with something more.
“But basketball was my outlet. My purpose was strong. My communities, the cities I represented with pride and the fans that supported me along the way.
“I am forever grateful for those people and places because they made me, Carmelo Anthony.”
He added that he was “excited about what the future holds”.
The Denver Nuggets drafted Anthony third overall out of Syracuse in 2003 after he led the school to a Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championship.
He might have been drafted higher if not for a player he would form a close friendship with – LeBron James, who went first overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Anthony led the Nuggets to the play-offs in his rookie year. He jab-stepped, up-faked and posted up his way to 10 All-Star Games and six All-NBA teams.
The forward ended his career with 28,289 total points – good for ninth in NBA history. He also won three Olympic golds and one bronze.
Many Knicks fans are particularly fond of Anthony, who was born in Brooklyn and pressured the Nuggets to trade him to New York in 2011 so he could team up with fellow All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire.
The partnership never fully bore fruit, thanks mainly to injuries to Stoudemire. But Anthony did provide memorable performances at Madison Square Garden, including a game in 2014 in which he scored 62 points, a franchise record.
He also led the Knicks to one of their only play-off series wins of the century, in 2013 against the Boston Celtics.
All told, Anthony played for six teams – the Nuggets, Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Lakers.
Off the court, the player became increasingly outspoken on social issues.
After George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in 2020, Anthony formed a philanthropic investment fund with Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade to invest in communities of colour, as well as to push for causes like changes to the criminal justice system. NYTIMES, AFP
