We compiled a group of individuals (programming note: 30 entries, not 30 people total) who mean something special to SLAM and to our audience. Read the full list here and order your copy of SLAM 248, where this list was originally published, here.

Carmelo Anthony officially retired from the NBA in May 2023, after racking up 28,289 points, making six All-NBA teams and winning three Olympic Gold medals. While he spent his last few seasons barnstorming around the League, he’ll be remembered for his tenures with the Nuggets and Knicks, where he headlined some great teams that were eventually dispatched by greater competition. But I think as time goes on, we will remember Melo for more than just basketball.

Melo was in the same 2003 NBA Draft class as LeBron James, which would put most players in danger of being overshadowed. But he shined his own light and carved his own path, which took serious work on and off the court. On the morning of the 2003 Draft, I sat down to breakfast with Carmelo, right there in the lobby of the Westin Hotel in Times Square where the NBA housed the players. His agents wanted us to meet in advance of Melo taking over the SLAM Rookie Diary, which I would help him write each month. We shared an awkward meal together, Melo just weeks removed from winning the NCAA Tournament with Syracuse, and just hours away from the biggest moment of his life. I mostly just tried to stay out of his way that day. 

But we were in constant contact throughout his rookie year—shout out tmail, IYKYK—and it was remarkable to see Melo gain confidence and start to grow into himself. He matured, became a father, had his own line of Jordans, and was starting to dabble in documentary production. At the time, you’ll remember, there was no real blueprint for an athlete looking to diversify their off-court interests. Michael Jordan was still building out Jordan Brand and yet to purchase the Hornets, and Carmelo and LeBron were feeling out similar lines of inquiry regarding what their business futures might look like. 

In the summer of 2008, we reached out to Carmelo because it was time to put him on the cover of SLAM, his fourth cover since the 2003 Draft. Melo was entering his sixth season, having averaged 24.4 ppg over those first five campaigns (all winning seasons), including two All-Star appearances. Still, it was tough for the Nuggets to break through—things were so stacked that the 2007-08 Nuggets won 50 games and still finished eighth in the Western Conference. 

Down to give us time for a cover shoot, Melo wanted to pitch us an idea: He wanted to be on the cover seated in a director’s chair. Nope, I quickly responded. Because if there was one thing the great Dennis Page taught all of us at SLAM, it was how to make a dope magazine cover. It was hard enough to do something compelling in that rectangular shape, and having someone sitting down really limited your options from a design standpoint. But Melo had legitimately thought it out. His life was changing. He felt like he was in control. He wanted to use one story to tell another story, and how better than by using a photo with him in a director’s chair? 

A compromise was reached. We would get a director’s chair and take pictures with Carmelo in it, but for the cover image, we’d use whatever worked best. As it turned out, the director’s chair worked best, turning into one of the more memorable SLAM covers of all time. 

We talked that day about his growth, and Melo noted, “It took me a while to figure out that I had everything in my own hands. It was hard to fathom that I went from a row house project building to a penthouse. It’s still hard to fathom that.”

Melo’s basketball story may have come to a graceful end, but he’s clearly not finished. He guest-edited SLAM’s Social Justice issue in 2020, addressing head-on many of the social issues in America then and now. The last few years, he’s done everything from owning a soccer team to acting on TV and in movies to launching a podcast to being profiled in Ad Week. And it don’t stop. 

People often ask me who my favorite NBA players are, and the truth is, I don’t have favorite players so much as I have favorite people. While Carmelo Anthony will go down as a Hall of Fame basketball player, maybe the better story is how he’s also grown into a Hall of Fame person. 

Photo via Getty Images.

The post THE 30 PLAYERS WHO DEFINED SLAM’S 30 YEARS: Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

What beats a classic SLAM solo cover!? An iconic duo cover, for sure. Think about it: Showbiz and KG, C-Webb and White Chocolate, Shaq and Kobe—all more than 20 years old, all still rockable on a cover tee (shout out SLAM Goods!). Players tag-teaming on a SLAM cover has been popping off recently, too—even Stockton and Malone finally got their joint on the All-Star Weekend special edition earlier this year! The chemistry is tangible and the shots are unforgettable. Duo covers are sick.

The fact is that a superstar can rarely win it all alone. Let’s think some more: Kareem needed Magic, Mike needed Pip (awkward!), Bron needed Wade, Curry needed Klay. When you think of a championship team, what comes to mind is usually plural.

When the Nuggets lifted the trophy this year, the sentiment was the same. The Joker—former League MVP in 2021 and 2022—is far from a one-man show. Murray, Gordon and Porter Jr are all appropriate counterparts in nailing a solid one-two punch with Jokic. But this isn’t the first time we’ve witnessed a championship caliber duo in Denver.

Back in 2006, NBA vet Allen Iverson joined a young but established Carmelo Anthony on a fresh and exciting Nuggets squad with high aspirations. Two years later, SLAM 115 dropped. Denver’s shot at a title wasn’t too far-fetched. However, it was yet another year where Kobe Bryant had his sights set on NBA greatness and the Lakers swept the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Worse than that, the Melo and AI combination drew to a close. Of course, we wish it would’ve lasted longer, but judging by the smiles on this iconic cover, those dudes are as happy as we are that it ever even happened. Although relatively short-lived, this moment being immortalized on a SLAM cover means that it will last forever. We got another dope duo cover in our collection, and the Nuggets—eventually—got their chip.

The post The SLAM Archives: SLAM 115 Featuring Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson From March of 2008 appeared first on SLAM.

From Denver to New York, we’ve captured Melo’s career over the years as one of the coldest scorers to ever do it. He’s graced the cover of SLAM six times, guest edited our Social Justice Special Issue and just last year, appeared on an episode of LeagueFits’ Survival of the Fitted podcast alongside Dwyane Wade.

To celebrate his legacy, here’s a look back at our Carmelo Anthony SLAM covers and more.

SLAM 105

 “I think just knowing what’s ahead of me, what’s in my future, it humbled me. That’s just making me more comfortable on the court. And when I ain’t laughin’ and smilin’ on the court, I don’t play right.”

SLAM 162

You can view every Carmelo Anthony SLAM cover ever in our SLAM Cover Gallery.

In 2020, Carmelo Anthony and his son, Kiyan, appeared on the cover of our Special Issue.

Melo and Wade broke down the evolution of fashion in the NBA and how it has changed since the 2003 NBA Draft, why the NBA dress code came into effect and where they would like to see fashion go next. Check it out.

The post Here’s a Look Back at Carmelo Anthony’s Iconic SLAM Covers and More appeared first on SLAM.

The 38-year-old has recently prioritized the emergence of his son, Kiyan, who has emerged as an elite high school recruiting prospect. Melo was in attendance for his sons game against Sierra Canyon, led by Bronny and Bryce James, the sons of LeBron James, and spoke with ESPN about whether he’ll continue the pursuit of his first championship.

“I want to be. You know, I love the game, but I realize that there are a lot of things not in my control,” Anthony said. “So I just sit back and let it play out and whatever it’s going to be it’s going to be and I accept that, I’m at peace with that. I get to watch my son play, you know, train him, be around him, come to his games, so these are the things for a long time that I’ve never had a chance to do, so now I can be that father and that man that I need to be.”

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As the third overall pick of the famed 2003 NBA draft, Anthony had a decorated career. As a ten-time All-Star, Melo averaged 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists. His gifted scoring earned him the ninth spot on the all-time list with 28,289 points. He’s accomplished it all, but adding a title to his coveted legacy is one of the few things he hasn’t won.

“I’m cool man. I would love to play,” Anthony said. “I’m in the gym every single day. When the opportunity presents itself it presents itself, but it’s not something I’m pressing about.”

Team’s around the League may not be in need of a 38-year-old forward, but Anthony is sure he has a lot left in the tank to compete at the highest level. For the moment, the future Hall Of Famer will remain in focus of how his son reaches the professional game.

The post Carmelo Anthony Unsure of His Future in the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Syracuse legend and free agent Carmelo Anthony started his legend playing for the Orange and had arguably the best freshman run any college hooper could embark on, averaging 22.2 points and 10 rebounds, and eventually led the school to its first NCAA championship.

Almost 20 years after shocking the college basketball scene, Anthony’s son, Kiyan, received an offer to play for Syracuse.  

Beyond blessed to receive an offer from Syracuse University! #GOORANGE pic.twitter.com/uBMq5Kwdv7

— Kiyan Anthony (@kiyananthony) November 13, 2022

Kiyan is a four-star sophomore playing for Christ The King High School in New York. He already has other offers to play for Memphis, George Mason, Bryant, and Manhattan, per 247sports. The 15-year-old is a shooting guard, unlike his dad who played small forward. Kiyan already ranks amongst the best in his class in the position at No. 14 and No. 62 nationally. 

“I feel like I have made big improvements since EYBL,” the younger Anthony said. “I’ve been In the gym every day working on my body and my jump shot and I’m looking forward to the season. I’m looking forward to show people what I can do on and off the ball. We got a lot of big talent on (Christ the King) and I’m looking forward to playing with these guys.”

In an interview with Dushawn London of 247sports in early October, Kiyan confessed he couldn’t go wrong playing for Syracuse if he chooses to go there.

“Syracuse is a big one for me because of my Dad,” Kiyan said. “He set the foundation over there so I won’t go wrong if I went there. My options are really open though since I’m only a sophomore.”

The post Carmelo Anthony’s Son Kiyan, Received Offer to Play for Syracuse appeared first on SLAM.

In a recent press conference, RJ Barrett shared why he feels the Knicks are ‘disrespected’ across the League.

“Besides the fans, which we do have a lot of fans, everybody else really doesn’t like us,” Barrett said, per the New York Post. “…But that’s fine. All the guys that they want to put in front of me or whatever, I’m in their heads, so it doesn’t really matter.”

Barrett responds to today’s GM Survey release that features predictions on who will be the next superstar and where teams will rank.

“I’ve gotten respect, but at the same time, there’s also a lot of disrespect. But that’s fine. All the guys that they want to put in front of me or whatever, I’m in their heads, so it doesn’t really matter.”

His recent extension signing with the Knicks keeps him in the squad for another four years, and it looked to be an easy decision for him, as he claims he just wanted to ‘lock in’ the deal and remain in New York.

A promising season is ahead for the team as newly acquired Jalen Brunson looks to make a productive run at point with Evan Fournier as his companion in the backcourt. Meanwhile, Barrett and Julius Randle will hold down the forward slots with a lot riding on how the team will perform this season.

The post RJ Barrett Shares Why He Thinks There’s ‘Disrespect’ Towards the Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

Dwight Howard's name is still buzzing amongst Brooklyn Nets brass, I'm told.

Howard's an NBA Champ & an eight time All-Star. pic.twitter.com/JKywMZ2x9C

— Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) September 22, 2022

The Nets are reportedly looking to add veterans with their final roster spots, and Howard fits that mold as a defensive menace in the paint. Brooklyn was interested in acquiring Carmelo Anthony; however, Robinson reported that they decided against bringing Melo in favor of bringing in a “vocal leader in the locker room.”

Carmelo Anthony's name has not been talked about more recently in Nets land, I'm told.

It was phrased to me that: "Nets are looking for a vocal leader in the locker room." pic.twitter.com/2jFa6GSAFW

— Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) September 22, 2022

Training camp around the League begins next week, starting with Media Day.

The post REPORT: Nets Interested in Signing Dwight Howard Off Free Agent Market appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony, who played last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaged 13.3 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the field. The ten-time NBA All-Star has been linked to multiple teams in the past few weeks, like the Brooklyn Nets and the Denver Nuggets. Melo was recently linked to the Boston Celtics after Danilo Gallinari suffered a Torn ACL. 

One of Melo's filthier go-to moves back when he was in Denver SHEESH #STAYME7O pic.twitter.com/PlO0XQldf5

— CTRL the Narrative (@ctrlnarrative) September 12, 2022

According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, the possibility of the Celtics signing the veteran is gaining “traction.” The Brooklyn Nets have also been a potential suitor. In fact, Kevin Durant has wanted Anthony to be a Net for quite some time now. As hinted by Brian Lewis of the New York Post, “If they (Nets) wanted to appease Durant, they could bring in Carmelo Anthony, a move he’s wanted them to make.”

Howard is another player who has made a name for himself in the NBA that remains a free agent. Howard, similar to Anthony, played for the Lakers last season. He averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game on a stellar 61.2 percent shooting from the field. The veteran is still a great addition to have for teams around the association, particularly ones that are looking for a rim protector. 

The former Defensive Player of the Year told Bally Sports’ Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson that he would be interested in joining the Brooklyn Nets, a team in need of more size at the center position.

Dwight Howard’s name has been mentioned in blogs recently as a potential Brooklyn Nets off-season signee.

I asked him if he had any interest in the Nets. His response to @BallySports was: “Yes I am.”

“Would love that.”

Howard’s an NBA Champ & an eight time All-Star. pic.twitter.com/OV0VelA5Nq

— Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) July 27, 2022

Griffin, a six-time NBA All-Star, also finds himself without a team with a new NBA season a month away. The 33-year-old played for the Brooklyn Nets last year and averaged a career-low of 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 42.5 percent shooting. Griffin also played a career low of 17.1 minutes per game.

The chances of the former Oklahoma Sooner returning to the Nets is unlikely, but being a solid piece off the bench for another squad is something that can be seen in Griffin’s future.

Training camp is set to begin on Sept 24.

The post Carmelo Anthony Amongst Three All-Stars Still On the Free Agent Market appeared first on SLAM.

Banchero joins a Jordan Brand family that includes Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Luka Doncic, Carmelo Anthony, Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum, Russell Westbrook, and of course, Michael Jordan.

Banchero was grinding in the Summer League with the Zion 2s and Air Jordan 36s this year.

Banchero played two Summer League games before Orlando decided to shut him down. In those two contests, Banchero showed why he was the top overall pick coming out of Duke as he averaged 20 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game.

Banchero won ACC Rookie of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American after scoring 17.2 points a game during his lone season at Duke.

The post REPORT: Paolo Banchero Finalizing Endorsement Deal With Jordan Brand appeared first on SLAM.

Every Friday, I’ll shoot over my 11 favorite pieces (as the gospel says: we don’t cop clothes, we cop pieces) that I loved on LeagueFits from the previous week. Who wore ’em, what the brand is and, of course, a button to cop. You can get this exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter, WHERE DO I COP?

As y’all probably saw, something major happened in the LeagueFits world this week: We got Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade as featured guests on our Survival of the Fitted podcast (check it out here). If you listen every week, welcome back. If you’ve never listened or watched before, I hope you tap in and enjoy your first one. Listening back was just as fun as the live recording. 

Also a major shout out to intern turned co-host turned certified icon Joe Williams. Dwyane Wade liked his FTP pants, so I gave him a little feature in this week’s Top 11. 

The 11 Best Pieces Featured on LeagueFits This Week

LOSO NYC FITTED (made-to-order) worn by SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

AIME LEON DORE “KNIT POLO CARDIGAN” worn by CARMELO ANTHONY

LOUIS VUITTON “TRAINER” worn by SCOTTIE BARNES

LOUIS VUITTON “INTARSIA SWEATER” worn by BEN SIMMONS

NIKE SB DUNK worn by CARMELO ANTHONY

DIOR “B23 SNEAKER” worn by LEXIE BROWN

BIRKENSTOCK “BOSTON SUPER GRIP” worn by DWYANE WADE

FUCK THE POPULATION “HEAVEN OR HELL PANTS” worn by JOE WILLIAMS

PRADA “MESH KNIT TOP” worn by DWYANE WADE

FROM A PENNY “LONG LIVE CAP” worn by DIJONAI CARRINGTON

NIKE AIR PRESTO “HELLO KITTY” worn by LIZ CAMBAGE

The post WHERE DO I COP? The 11 Best Pieces Featured on LeagueFits This Week (7/22) appeared first on SLAM.

Fashion has always been a part of the game. From their on-court kicks to the fits player’s are rockin’ in the tunnel, everyone is keeping tabs on what their favorite hoopers are wearing throughout the season. LeagueFits has always been at the forefront of basketball fashion (iykyk), and they’ve even got you covered with a weekly newsletter, Where Do I Cop? that spotlights the 11 best fits featured on LF from that week and where you can cop them (subscribe here).

When it comes to the evolution of fashion across the Association, LeagueFits went ahead and chopped it up with the legends themselves. NBA greats Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, two of the most influential and iconic superstars to ever play the game, recently appeared this week’s episode of Survival of the Fitted, along with iconic Creative Directors Calyann Barnett and Khalilah Beavers to talk about the beginning of their fashion careers, how fashion has evolved since the 2003 NBA Draft (we have an entire special issue dedicated to that legendary draft class) and more.

Hosted by LeagueFits’ Ian Piero and Joe Williams, they also discussed the origins of the NBA dress code, where they want to see fashion go next and the inspiration behind “The Shop Miami”—their closet sale, which starts today, features items from some of your favorite stars on LeagueFits. You can check out The Shop Miami here.

“None of us created fashion, you just brought your own twist to it and we did what works best for me and you,” Wade told LeagueFits.

“Survival of the Fitted” is available on all streaming platforms, subscribe here.

The post Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade Discuss the Evolution of NBA Fashion on LeagueFits’ ‘Survival of the Fitted’ appeared first on SLAM.

Giving back to the game that raised you is an admirable notion that should be praised by hoopers all across the world, no matter how small the gesture. You can cross that notion off of Carmelo Anthony’s to-do list.

In 2005, Anthony co-founded Team Melo, a non-profit organization based out of Baltimore that’s dedicated to helping student-athletes on and off the court. 

“Not only do we do basketball, but we also mentor, [have] after-school programming—it’s another component to [Anthony’s] charitable work,” Team Melo president and cofounder Robert “Bay” Frazier explains. “We do back-to-school drives, Thanksgiving drives, it’s everything—it’s all inclusive, just giving back to the youth in Baltimore.”

This individualized helping hand is what truly separates Team Melo from other AAU programs. A prime example is Cam Whitmore, a Villanova commit and Team Melo member of five years who attests to the huge impact Carmelo has had on his life.

“He invited me over to his house to work out with him, just giving me some teaching points about the specifics. Like the midpost game, stuff like that. And in the outside world, [he told me], Just remain humble, everything else will come toward you, just keep moving,” says Whitmore.

Don’t let their off-court kindness fool you, though: Team Melo has some serious hoopers on their roster.

The 17U team is a member of the prestigious Nike EYBL circuit, with eight of its 10 players currently holding college offers, according to Frazier. A notable alumni you may hear about come draft time in June is All-Big East First Team forward Justin Lewis from Marquette.

With travel and gear all paid for, players only have to worry about one thing: showing up and balling out. For Frazier, the end result is about much more than just the scoreboard.

“It’s the glory of seeing the guys become successful. They don’t all have to make it to the NBA, it’s about going to college, enjoying college and coming back to me, like, Man, Bay, you’ve been a blessing to me, and their parents saying that. I love that, I love that part. That’s what I get out of it.”

Photos by Hugo Rodas and Liam Callahan.

The post Carmelo Anthony’s Team Melo is on a Mission to Build Successful Student-Athletes appeared first on SLAM.

Monday night’s rally took place outside of the Toyota Center, the home of the Houston Rockets. Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee organized and hosted the rally with the city of Houston and the NAACP Houston Chapter. 

“Unfortunately, I knew that Brittney Griner’s destiny was going to be wrapped up in the leadership of the United States of America and the American people who had expressed their outrage and care for her,” Jackson Lee said in a statement released by the Toyota Center. “…Our nation is founded on the values of equality and democracy. On Monday, Houstonians will stand up with pride in their love of democracy, equality, and justice; and their voices will be heard in Washington DC and all the way to where Brittney is held.”

“We hope this rally and prayer vigil will continue to propel the administration and the President of the United States to continue to work to secure the release of Brittney Griner.”

The rally featured multiple prominent politicians and social activists, including U.S. Marine Trevor Reed. Reed was detained in Russia for nearly three years and was recently released.

“I was wrongfully detained in Russia in 2019, and I was a prisoner there for 985 days,” Reed said. “It’s really medieval.”

A Houston native, Griner was a standout at Nimitz High School and later received national recognition at Baylor, where she led the Bears to an NCAA Championship in 2012.

NBA stars from LeBron James to Carmelo Anthony have called for the release of Griner, who has been detained in Russia for over 100 days.

“She is a WNBA player, an Olympian, a teammate, a sister, a daughter, a wife,” Anthony said in a statement released on social media. “She is a human, and she needs to come home.”

The post Houston Holds Rally Calling For Brittney Griner’s Return From Russia appeared first on SLAM.

19nine dove deep into the archives to bring back some college basketball classics for their latest ensemble, the 19nine Legacy Collection, which features four retro pairs of Michigan, UConn, Syracuse and Cincinnati 19nine Legacy shorts. Each pair is expertly crafted with the original materials and designs from when they first debuted in the 90s and early 2000s, while also maintaining the comfort and premium finishes that 19nine is known for.

“The Legacy Collection is our take on some of the greatest college basketball shorts of all time,” says 19nine VP and co-owner Josh Barnett. “Two of the four have a direct tie to New Orleans, home to this year’s Final Four and the other two are some of our favorite shorts of all time. With the Legacy Collection we wanted to challenge ourselves to produce a product that looks and feels like it’s from the era it represents in the premium 19nine way. Stitched piping, embroidered logos, no pockets. Straight old school. We hope you love them as much as we loved bringing them back to life.” 

The collection, which will be available April 1, captures all of the nostalgia and history that was made throughout each team’s NCAA tournament appearance, including the iconic shorts worn by the Fab 5 during Michigan’s Final Four run back in New Orleans back in 1993 (if you know, you know that the Fab 5 weren’t just certified-buckets, but major trendsetters).

The 19nine Legacy Collection also captures the magic of Cincinnati’s Elite Eight run in 1996, where they eventually lost to Mississippi State, as well as UConn’s first-ever championship title win in 1999. Richard Hamilton, who won Final Four Most Outstanding Player, rocked these shorts as he cut down the net for the first time. Now you can, too.

The final pair in the collection pays homage to the Syracuse Orange, led by then-freshman Carmelo Anthony, when they won the first title in school history in 2003. Legendary.

The 19nine Legacy Collection drops this Friday on SLAMgoods at 3pm ET. Stay tuned.

The post 19nine Brings Back Iconic Retro College Basketball Shorts in ‘Legacy Collection’ appeared first on SLAM.

Instead, Melo’s long midrange jumper missed. Bron said he preferred Anthony’s shot because it was a better shot postgame.

“I could have forced a reverse layup, but I wasn’t in a position to feel like I could’ve gotten a great look,” explained James. “I could’ve gotten a decent look. And I feel like Melo’s look was a lot better than mine. So it’s literally that simple.”

Breaking down the play, the King decided to give up the game-winner because the Rockets collapsed around him. Still, Anthony was wide open on the wing, and upon receiving James’ pass, Melo’s shot attempt, a pull-up jumper after pump-faking his defender out of his way missed the mark. Even though the game didn’t end the way the Lakers wanted, you have to live with the decision the four-time MVP made.

The decision so late in the game has become synonymous with James’ game. And a reason that so many detractors say he isn’t the GOAT. However, James has hit seven career buzzer-beaters, five of them in the playoffs, the most all-time. He has also hit 97 go-ahead/game-tying shots in the final minute of games, the second-most in NBA history behind only Kobe Bryant.

James, Anthony, and the Lakers look to redeem against the Wizards on Thursday.

The post LeBron James On Passing Potential Game-Winner to Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

The injuries started with Kendrick Nunn being held out with a knee bruise the entire season thus far. LeBron James has two stints of missing multiple games with abdominal and knee injuries, while Anthony Davis missed 17 games with a knee injury.

In Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers lost Carmelo Anthony to a hamstring strain.

Carmelo Anthony (right hamstring strain) is out for the remainder of tonight’s game pic.twitter.com/Pw8fzP82X1

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 4, 2022

Following a 24-point performance in a Lakers win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Melo was still locked in with seven quick points in 11 minutes. However, he came up limping in the second quarter, leaving immediately for the locker room and did not return.

According to ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the injury is not as severe as feared, and he is listed day-to-day to get back in action.

There’s optimism that Carmelo Anthony’s right hamstring strain isn’t serious and he’s expected to be day-to-day on a return to the Lakers lineup, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2022

Carmelo Anthony has appeared in 50 of the Lakers’ 53 games this season, leaving Russell Westbrook as the only player that has not missed a game this season.

Anthony is averaging 13.4 points and 4.2 rebounds this season.

The post REPORT: Carmelo Anthony Listed Day to Day After Hamstring Strain appeared first on SLAM.

That stretch is the reason why James believes that the Lakers can still finish strong to win the NBA championship in a similar fashion to what Tom Brady did with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a mediocre start, the team put it all together late in the season and went on a playoff run that ended in Brady winning a seventh overall Super Bowl.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Anthony, and other Laker teammates seem to have related to the comparison to the seven-time Super Bowl champion and arguably the greatest football player of all time.

“It’s a great comparison, What better team and what better situation to compare it to than what the Bucs did last year?”

“Just from the standpoint of starting off slow and having new guys on the team. New system. Guys trying to figure it out, guys trying to figure out how to play with LeBron and (Anthony Davis) and now incorporating Russ and just now everybody figuring out what their role is,” Anthony said. “And what made it beautiful for the Bucs is that once it came together, it came together and you saw what happened with that.”

The King used the comparisons to prepare his team for the possible growing pains of figuring out roles long-term and team chemistry during the offseason. Anthony stated that James’ foreshadowing has kept the team on an even keel at the halfway point this season.

“It was just kind of preparing ourselves for whatever happens, whatever comes along,” Anthony said. “I think we were, I don’t want to say prepared for those (difficult) moments and those times mentally and emotionally, but yeah, those were conversations that were happening.”

The Los Angeles Lakers start the second half of the season against the Sacramento Kings (16-27).

The post Carmelo Anthony Agrees With LeBron James’ Comparisons To Super Bowl Champs appeared first on SLAM.

According to StatMuse, Herro leads the League in total points off the bench with 157. Carmelo Anthony ranks second, 25 points behind Herro with 132. Herro’s production this season has been spectacular, reaching career-highs in nearly every single statistical category.

“You’re talking about somebody who’s becoming one of the most skilled players in this League,” head coach Erik Spoelstra said via Sports Illustrated

Herro’s gettin BUSY. (via @MiamiHEAT) pic.twitter.com/A833ZMpNrp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 3, 2021

Herro, who is currently averaging 22.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, is already getting his much-deserved flowers so early in the season. He and the Miami Heat (6-1) will take on the Boston Celtics (2-5) on Thursday.

The post Erik Spoelstra Says Tyler Herro is ‘Becoming One of the Most Skilled Players in this League’ appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA lockout was in full effect and there was no end in sight. Inside the legendary Palestra, players were gathering for the love of the game in front of their adoring fans. The players included a two-time NBA MVP, two top-10 all-time leading NBA scorers, 
one top-five all-time NBA assists leader, one NBA Rookie of the Year, three NBA and NCAA champions and four Olympic Gold medalists. The Nike mantra of “Basketball Never Stops” was alive and on full display. 

The summer/fall of 2011 was like getting multiple releases on the Snkrs app for a basketball fan—a remarkable, rare occurrence. While the owners and players union were debating over finances, the stars of the League made sure they filled their fans’ thirst for affordable, high-level action across the country in DC, L.A., Baltimore, Oklahoma, New York and Philadelphia.

“That is what made the lockout games so great,” says Jamar Smiley, Director of Player Relations for BDA Sports Management. “The everyday fan was able to see [the stars] play without sacrificing a day’s pay.” 

The idea for the game in West Philadelphia started with some territorial trash talk between Carmelo Anthony and Hakim Warrick about which city, Baltimore or Philly, had better players. The two were teammates on Syracuse in 2003, when the program won a national championship. 

The vision started to become a reality on the night of Saturday, August 20, on the drive home from watching The Capital Punishment game in DC, where the Goodman League, led by Kevin Durant and John Wall, faced off against the Drew League, featuring James Harden and DeMar DeRozan. 

I contacted Skinny [Hakim Warrick] via Facebook messenger, who then put me in touch with Smiley. Smiley and I spoke, and roles began to be defined. I would handle the logistics of the game, Skinny and Melo would be team captains and oversee coordination with the players, and Smiley would be my day-to-day contact.

Once the team captains committed and the $25,000 contribution to their designated charities was confirmed, it was time to get to work. We had to secure the venue and an insurance policy, get product for the players and advertise for the game.

The first task was locking down the historical Palestra arena, which sits on the Ivy League campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The Palestra is considered the Cathedral of College Basketball, and legendary players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have all stepped foot on its court.

“From our first conversation, the game had to be at The Palestra; there was no second option,” Warrick says. “Plus, it is right around the corner from where I grew up in the Bottom West Philly.”

I called Philadelphia basketball icon, two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and UPenn head coach Jerome Allen, who has known Skinny and I since we were both young.

Allen arranged for a series of meetings between the Palestra’s facility director, UPenn’s athletic director and myself. Penn administration met the idea of the game with skepticism, due to the uncertainty of when the lockout would end. I assured them the game would happen because there was no end in sight for the lockout. I was confident, since I had daily communication with Smiley, who worked for one of the most prominent NBA agents in Bill Duffy, who represented numerous NBA stars including Steve Nash and Yao Ming.

Other parts were moving outside of the UPenn meetings. Nike had confirmed that they would be the official product sponsor for the game, outfitting all the players. Urban retail store DTLR Sneaker Villa would pay for all the radio advertisements, along with acquiring the insurance policy. Ten days after the initial meeting with Penn’s administrators, a deal was put in place for the Palestra to host the game.

Once these parts were solidified, the announcement to the public was made, and interest for the game exceeded all of our expectations.

Streaming is a standard tool of viewership nowadays, but back in 2011, it was something new. The Basketball Channel, a new company, approached me about the idea of streaming the event via the internet using their partnership with Sports Illustrated. The event was now going global.

“The game became bigger than what we expected,” says Warrick, a 13-year NBA vet and the Team Philly captain. “This was before the explosion of social media. Between the venue and streaming, this wasn’t no pickup game at the rec.”

The date and time were picked based on the fact that the hometown Philadelphia Eagles were playing their NFC East rival New York Giants that afternoon at 1 pm. Our game was scheduled to start at 6. I knew this would be a dream sports day for Philly fans. The Eagles versus the Giants at 1. The lockout game at 6 at the Palestra. It doesn’t get any better.

It was a warm, fall day, with temperatures in the 60s, but inside, the Palestra was humid and hot like a summer barbeque in the middle of the afternoon. “You had a three-piece suit on,” Smiley says, laughing, remembering the day. “I don’t know how you did it; I had to take my rugby shirt off.”

Members of the Philly team started to arrive around 4:30. As Hakim Warrick, Lou Williams, Kyle Lowry, Flip Murray, Wayne Ellington, Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, Mark Tyndale, Mardy Collins, Dionte Christmas and Aaron Owens began to take the court to warm up, a buzz started growing. Only three members of Team Melo were on the court: Donte Greene, Josh Selby and Gary Forbes.

The remaining players were still nowhere to be seen or found as it approached 30 minutes before tip-off. Fans were beginning to worry if the game was even going to happen.

I wasn’t worried at all. I was in contact with Worldwide Wes [William Wesley, current Executive Vice President for the New York Knicks] the entire time. Melo, Bron and CP3 were at the Eagles-Giants game, and Wes had arranged for them to have a police escort to the arena.

At 5:45 pm, my BlackBerry rang. It was Worldwide Wes asking, “Where do we pull up at?” I instructed them to go through the back entrance. A fleet of black SUVs pulled up. First Chris Paul jumped out, then Carmelo, then LeBron. All three of them entered the Palestra and walked under the stands to the locker room. When the fans caught a glimpse of the trio, the arena erupted.

Finally, as the clock hit 6:15, legendary Philadelphia referee Keith “Showtime” Saunders tossed the ball up for the opening tip. Players on both teams competed as if it were Game 7 of the NBA Finals, with Team Philly winning, 131-122. But to basketball fans, there were no losers.

For those lucky few who got inside the hallowed halls of the Palestra, watching all of those future Hall of Famers—watching history—it was a once in a lifetime event. 

Rahim Thompson is the founder of The Chosen League, the Philadelphia-based high school summer basketball league whose alumni include Kyle Lowry, Gerald Henderson and Kyle Kuzma. His book, Choose Wisely, is available at nomattertheodds.com.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Hunter/The Chosen League.

The post How LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul Linked Up to Play in the Legendary Battle of I-95 Game appeared first on SLAM.

After dropping a team-high 23 points in the Lakers win in Staples, the 19-year veteran decided to clear up the air surrounding his reputation.

“I think people don’t really understand me”, Anthony said via ESPN. “I think there’s a misconception out there about me and not being able to adapt to situations. But I’m easily adaptable, man, to any situation.”

@carmeloanthony does it on both ends in the @Lakers win!

23 PTS
5 3PM
2 STL
4 BLK pic.twitter.com/iz6YJScGv9

— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2021

Melo has been more than an elite substitute in this year’s Lakers roster. He’s averaging 16.7 points and 3.9 boards off the bench while shooting a scintillating 52.2 percent three-point range.

Not only has Melo been a machine of offensive efficiency off the pine, but he has also been making the turn in year 19 towards being a defensive stalwart, racking up four blocks and two steals in their win over the Rockets.

In just seven games, Carmelo has become the Lakers most valuable piece off the bench, they’re now 3-0 when Melo pours in 20 or more points.

If there were any more questions regarding Anthony’s adaptability, throw them out the window now. Since coming off the bench, Anthony is having one of his most statistically efficient seasons in year 19, shooting 8-14 from the field and 5-8 from three on Sunday.

The post Carmelo Anthony Clears Any ‘Misconception’ Around His Game After Performance Against the Rockets appeared first on SLAM.

Melo saying the best part about his accomplishment is the level of play he’s continued to sustain going into year 19.

“I’m still here doing it,” Anthony said, per ABC News. “I think that’s what I’m honestly excited about. I’m here in Year 19 still doing what I’m able to do. Still passionate about the game. Still passionate about coming to work every day and getting better. And what a better night to reach ninth than with a win, the way that we needed a win tonight.

Melo entered the night only needing 15 points to surpass Malone’s 27,409 career points. He scored 18 of his team-high 28 points in the second-half of the game, and then continued to pour it in from deep, shooting 6-for-8 from three while making a pair of free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining to help solidify the win.

At 37 years old, Anthony is averaging 17.7 ppg so far this season.

He ignited Staples Center with back-to-back threes in a 48-second span, flipping a two-point deficit into a two-point lead late in the fourth. Anthony continued to pour it in from deep, shooting 6-for-8 from three on the night while icing the game with a pair of two free throws to put the Lakers up with 1.9 seconds remaining.

After the game, the team presented Melo with the game ball.

“They wanted me to give a speech, but I was too tired,” he said per ESPN.

After netting their first win of the season, the Lakers turn their attention to a Tuesday night matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.

The post Carmelo Anthony Becomes No.9 All-Time Leading Scorer in NBA History, Passes Moses Malone appeared first on SLAM.

On Thursday morning, The NBA vet debuted his latest. memoir “Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised”, speaking on how his life was before the scoring titles, college championships and the glory that comes with being an NBA star.

He makes it his priority to tell readers that “this is not a book about basketball, its about LIFE”.

Being born and raised in Brooklyn’s Red Hook Projects, he starts his story off at the age of eight.

Growing up amidst gang violence, racism and pain, Carmelo had no choice but to move to Baltimore but, sadly, this place was no better than the last. The notorious murder spree’s and crime rate’s gave birth to Baltimore’s nickname “Bodymore, Murderland”.

Thankfully, he was able to find solace in a world so cold, finally joining towson catholics basketball team where he would then become a basketball star. After leaving in 2009, he went on to join Oak Hill Academy in Virginia to play under head coach Steve Smith.

Carmelo exclaims that the book is “Raw and Honest. It’s very sentimental, and it’s coming directly from me. I’m not sugarcoating anything. I’m giving it to you as if I was in my living room, talking to family and friends about my upbringing. I’m allowing you to enter that world”.

He explains that although the things he’s seen in Baltimore made him stronger, it’s liable to stress you out. The cold world he lived in during his upbringing shaped him for different lessons and walks of life that he is now in position to experience.

“Understanding it better, knowing how to move, knowing how to make certain decisions. That’s what it did for me”.

“Where Tomorrow’s Aren’t Promised” is now available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.

The post Carmelo Anthony Debuts New Memoir “Where Tomorrow’s Aren’t Promised” appeared first on SLAM.

From there, he was traded to the New York Knicks, in what was a huge deal at the time. 

Anthony recently joined All The Smoke, discussing his time with the Nuggets. He talked about how he actually never wanted to leave Denver. 

“Contrary to what anybody an every believes, I never wanted to leave Denver. I never told people that. But I never wanted to leave Denver. But it’s like they put my back against the wall,” said Anthony.

Now at age 37, Anthony is set to join the Los Angeles Lakers who will be his sixth NBA team. While his role is no longer what it once was in the League, he’s still a well-respected scorer who can raise the ceiling of a contender. 

The post Carmelo Anthony: ‘I Never Wanted To Leave Denver’ appeared first on SLAM.

Carmelo discussed the possibility as a guest on Showtime’s All The Smoke podcast, hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. Anthony told a backstory of how Detroit promised that they were going to select him after LeBron James with the No. 2 pick back in 2003.

Melo was 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 to be drafted by the Pistons

He believes that decision changed the course of his career. #ATS100 | @carmeloanthony pic.twitter.com/vof21kguTH

— SHOWTIME Basketball (@shobasketball) August 17, 2021

“To this day, I still think about that. I’m like, they promised me, You know what I’m saying? ‘We taking you.’ I’m talking about all the way up to draft day, you understand? ‘We taking you.’ So, in my mind, I’m like, ‘I’m going to Detroit.’ …They won it and I’m like, ‘Ah, my luck.’ If I’m there, I think they win another one. I think we go back-to-back if I’m there.”

“We drove from (Baltimore) to Philly to go watch—it was Detroit versus Philly,” Anthony added. “Larry Brown had already took the job at Detroit, but he was still coaching Philly. So, we’re in the back and he’s like, ‘We taking you. We taking you.’ I’m driving back up 95 like, ‘Yo, we going to Detroit.’ The whole hood? ‘We Detroit.'”

History shows that the situation did not pan out that way. The Pistons now reside in infamy selecting Darko Milicic with the No. 2 pick instead of Anthony, who fell to the Nuggets at No. 3 or Chris Bosh, who was selected by the Toronto Raptors at No. 4 or Dwyane Wade who was selected by the Miami Heat at No. 5.

Anthony played seven full seasons in Denver before being traded to the New York Knicks. He signed a one year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

The post Carmelo Anthony Claims Detroit Pistons ‘Promised’ to Draft Him in ’03 appeared first on SLAM.

In a recent press conference, Anthony spoke to Kyle Goon of The Southern California News Group and other members of the media about why he chose the Lakers. 

“I’m coming here with a championship on my mind,” said Anthony. 

It appears at this point in his career, the one accomplishment Anthony lacks is an NBA title. He alluded to this in the press conference. 

“This is the one thing I’m missing,” said Anthony. “This is the one thing that keeps me up at night, that motivates me because I don’t have it.”

Last season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Anthony averaged 13.4 points per game while shooting 40.9 percent from deep. On a deep Lakers team, he’ll provide veteran leadership and scoring which will be key for a deep postseason push. 

The post Carmelo Anthony on Lakers: ‘I’m Coming Here With A Championship On My Mind’ appeared first on SLAM.

In what was a highly anticipated move, the Lakers will now have an offensive-minded forward more than capable of replacing the production Kyle Kuzma brought to the second unit.

Both on the scoreboard and the backboard, as Anthony averaged 14.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for the Portland Trail Blazers over the past two seasons (all while shooting 39.9 percent from 3-point range).

Anthony, who was selected two picks after LeBron in the historic 2003 NBA Draft class, is a 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection who has become one of the league’s most beloved figures over the past two decades.

With Russell Westbrook also joining the Lakers this offseason, Los Angeles will have as legitimate a chance as any to win the champion next season.

The post REPORT: Carmelo Anthony Joins Lakers on 1-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Since then, he’s bounced around the League and has become more of a spark plug role player. However, as he enters free agency this summer, he could be headed back to New York.

As first reported by Jordan Schultz of ESPN, the New York Knicks are expected to pursue Carmelo Anthony in free agency. Knicks President Leon Rose has a great relationship with Anthony from their together at CAA.

Anthony has spent the past two seasons in Portland with the Trail Blazers. During the 2020-21 season, he averaged 13.4 points per game while shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc.

For a team like the Knicks who were just a few pieces away from being a real threat in the Eastern Conference, Anthony would be a great step in the right direction.

The post Knicks Have Interest in a Carmelo Anthony Reunion appeared first on SLAM.

So here it is: 100 pages that capture 2003’s best players, sneakers, outfits, accomplishments, and everlasting impact on not just basketball, but on sports in general. While we’re not gonna explicitly say that ’03 is the numero uno, we will say that those 12 calendar months changed everything in SLAM’s world.

SLAM Presents ’03 Draft available now!

This special issue is also available in an exclusive gold metal edition. Only 94 copies are available in gold. Shop here.

Crank some 50 or Hov, throw on your dopest throwback, and get your copy of SLAM Presents the ’03 Draft on SLAMgoods.com.

The post SLAM Presents ’03 Draft is OUT NOW! appeared first on SLAM.

The first-ever winner of the award, the 10-time All-Star chose the Portland Art Museum’s Black Arts and Experiences Initiative to receive a $100,000 donation on his behalf.

Per the NBA’s press release on May 13, the award “recognizes a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the league’s decades-long values of equality, respect and inclusion.”

Humbled, honored, and motivated to live up to the namesake of this inaugural award. I can promise that I’ll continue to carry the torch and shine a light in the places that need it most. #STAYME7O pic.twitter.com/t5H0H6Y8B5

— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) June 30, 2021

The 37-year-old has instrumented volumes of change in the fight for social justice. In July of 2020, Anthony partnered with Suns guard Chris Paul and former star Dwyane Wade to create the Social Change Fund. Anthony also serves as a board member for the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition.

Anthony, who served as a guest editor for our Social Justice Issue back in August of 2020, most recently partnered with 94-year-old activist Opal Lee in March to raise awareness for Juneteenth and its advocacy to become a national holiday.

Tobias Harris, Harrison Barnes, Jrue Holiday and Juan Toscano-Anderson were the four runners-up and will each designate an organization to receive $25,000.

In the near future, Anthony and Abdul-Jabbar – who presented the award to Melo before Game 4 between the Bucks and Hawks – will develop and design a trophy that draws inspiration from both of their visions with the help of a team of emerging and diverse designers from the Marcus Graham Project.

The post Carmelo Anthony Inaugural Winner of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award appeared first on SLAM.

This upcoming weekend, all of that changes.

Carmelo’s Portland Trail Blazers take on the Nuggets in the first-round of the playoffs starting Saturday. Anthony wasn’t with Portland when they faced the Nuggets in the 2019 playoffs. Portland won that series in seven games to advance to the Western Conference Finals, but was swept by Golden State.

Surprisingly, Anthony stated that he hadn’t realized that he’d never faced his first NBA team in the postseason. But he holds a certain fondness for those times in a Nuggets uniform.

“It’s a lot different now. My mindset is different. My goals are different. We’re going in there trying to win,” he said. “So, it’s a different type of mentality, but deep down inside I know that Denver will always hold a special place for me.”

“Deep down inside, I know that Denver will always hold a special place to me.” @CarmeloAnthony | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/lDyMu6v3mC

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 19, 2021

Anthony played in Denver for over seven seasons, leading the team to the Western Conference Finals following the 2008-09 season ending in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

He was then traded in 2011 to the New York Knicks, where he played six seasons. Melo also spent a season in Oklahoma City and 10 games in Houston before being traded to Chicago, ultimately getting released.

Anthony sat out a year before being signed by the Trail Blazers in November 2019 for his locker room presence and veteran leadership.

This season, Anthony leads the bench unit in scoring with 13.4 points per game.

Throughout his playoff career, Anthony has overall averages of 23.9 points, 7 rebounds and 2.5 assists with the Blazers, Nuggets, Knicks and Thunder.

The Blazers and Nuggets will play Game 1 in Denver on Saturday.

The post Carmelo Anthony Finally Faces Denver For the First Time in Postseason appeared first on SLAM.

Against the Atlanta Hawks, Anthony passed Elvin Hayes and is now in the top-ten in NBA history when it comes to total points. With 27,318 career points, he will look to continue to climb the ladder throughout the final years of his career. As of now, LeBron James is the only active player who has more career points. 

On this special night, Anthony was shown love by his teammates postgame as he gave his thoughts on the accomplishment.

“A couple years ago I ain’t think I was gonna be in this moment. I was out the league for whatever reason…I’m back. I persevered. I stayed strong I stayed true to myself & now I’m here in the Top 10.”

In his long, decorated career, Anthony has averages of 23.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting .447 from the field. One of the most pure scorers in the league, he continues to climb the all-time NBA scoring list.

Next up on Anthony’s list to pass is Moses Malone, who is just 91 points ahead of him with the ninth-most points in NBA history. 

The post Carmelo Anthony Climbs to 10th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony announced his memoir release coming out on Sep. 14, according to NBA.com. It documents his childhood start in New York City and Baltimore to his numerous accomplishments—which include two Olympic gold medals and being celebrated as one of professional basketball’s top scorers whether it be FIBA or the NBA.

Carmelo’s memoir, titled “Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised,” was published by Gallery Books. Gallery Books called the book “raw and inspirational.”

“I’m a Black kid from the bottom,” the 37-year-old Anthony writes in an excerpt of the book shared on Wednesday.

“I had to fight through some of the roughest housing projects in America. How did I, a kid who’d had so many hopes, dreams and expectations beat out of him, make it here at all?”

Anthony, currently averaging 13.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Portland Trail Blazers this season, shot to superstar status playing for the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks.

The former scoring champ recently passed Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for 11th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and is inching closer to passing another Hall of Fame big man in Elvin Hayes for 10th in the career points.

The post Carmelo Anthony Announces Memoir, ‘Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ever since LaMelo Ball stepped foot into the league, there has been a never-ending Twitter debate about whether or not it’s permissible to call him “Melo”—considering that the nickname already belongs to 10-time All-Star, walking bucket, and NBA vet Carmelo Anthony. When Ball started mimicking Anthony’s three-to-the-dome three-point celebration gesture, everyone had something to say about it.

However, Anthony has given his stamp of approval to the Charlotte Hornets rookie to not only mimic his iconic celebration, but he also said that it’s an “honor” to share his name with Ball:

“There’s nothing nobody can do, nobody can say, I think LaMelo is going to be somebody in this game for a long time,” Anthony said, according to Yahoo Sports. “So, the name Melo you might as well continue getting used to that or stay with it. I don’t get into that though. For me, it’s a respect thing. It’s an honor for him to have that name, for him to embrace it, for him to do the celebration. It’s an honor, it’s a blessing, it’s a respect thing for me, so I embrace him.”

Ball continues to impress as a rookie and finished with 30 points and 8 assists in the Hornets 111-123 loss to the Trailblazers on Monday. Anthony finished with 29 points, two assists, and two rebounds.

After the game, the two swapped jerseys—solidifying that one generation has embraced the next.

Melo Melo

Respect.#RipCity #StayMe7o pic.twitter.com/cfeqUuj09h

— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) March 2, 2021

The post Carmelo Anthony Gives LaMelo Ball His Blessing appeared first on SLAM.

Moving on up!

Congratulations, @carmeloanthony pic.twitter.com/a1ndEDvt58

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 10, 2021

Anthony reached this significant mark early in the 4th quarter against the Magic, solidifying the record with his signature pump fake and fade-away jumper. This iconic move will never get old.

Melo moves to 12th on the all-time NBA scoring list with this bucket pic.twitter.com/xHnQdlppt4

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 10, 2021

Along with reaching this milestone, Anthony added a season-high 23 points in 27 minutes. He also went 5-9 from beyond the arc helping the Blazers get past the Magic, 106-97.

So far this season, Anthony is averaging 12.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. At this stage in his career, Anthony isn’t taking anything for granted especially when it comes to passing legends like the ‘Big O’

“I try to play it cool sometimes. I try to sit back and reflect on these moments, take these moments in … but The Big O, that’s big.” @CarmeloAnthony talks to @Brookeolzendam in tonight’s @biofreeze Top Performance Review pic.twitter.com/czuzfp7dHq

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 10, 2021

The veteran forward has become the leader of the Blazers second unit as he has been able to redefine his legendary career in Portland primarily coming off the bench. Anthony has now scored 20+ in 3 of the last 4 games for the Blazers helping them go 3-1 in that stretch.

Melo scored a season-high 23 PTS tonight #StayMe7o pic.twitter.com/StvpBWuLpP

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 10, 2021

As Anthony looks to crack the top 10, the next stop will be passing two former NBA greats Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) and then Elvin Hayes (27,313).

Anthony continues to add to an outstanding basketball career that includes an NCAA National Championship at Syracuse, three Olympic golds, a scoring title in 2012-13, and 10 All-Star appearances.

The post Carmelo Anthony Reaches No. 12 on All-Time Scoring List appeared first on SLAM.

In fact, Nikola Jokic himself has offered nothing but high praise for Melo, reminding reporters that Anthony “was a big part of this franchise… he made a history and legacy here.”

The third overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Anthony was seen as on-par with LeBron James by scouts who loved his scoring ability. Having just won a national championship with Syracuse, Melo was already a college star with an easily recognizable name and an awe-inspiring game.

Denver was both lucky and happy to have him.

Finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting to James in 2003 after averaging 21.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, Anthony would go on to be named to the 2003-04 All-Rookie First Team. Melo would then take the Nuggets to the playoffs in his second season, where they would appear every season until his trade to the New York Knicks.

Not a team with an abundance of playoff success, Melo’s Nuggets routinely lost in the first round. Nonetheless, Anthony managed to take Denver to the Western Conference Finals in 2009, the Nuggets’ first NBA Conference Finals appearance since 1985 and only their third appearance in franchise history.

They would lose in six games to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers after trading blows for the first contests.

Unfortunately, while once one of the most beloved stars in the NBA, the last few chapters of Anthony’s story has been filled with sharp twists and rapid turns. None of that discounts what he’s already accomplished though.

Having recently moved up to 13th on the all-time scoring list, Anthony’s name is found throughout the Nuggets’ record books.

While being sixth in career games played with Denver (564), he ranks first in usage percentage (31.2), third in franchise history in points (13,970), third in free-throws (3,582), and seventh in steals (634).

The post Nikola Jokic: Carmelo Anthony ‘Made a History and Legacy’ in Denver appeared first on SLAM.

In 13 episodes, Melo goes in-depth about everything he knows about the game, both mentally and physically. “It’s time we give everyone a true behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to get to the top,” Melo writes on Instagram.

In creating Through The Lens, Anthony and co-founder Alex Bazzell—a top NBA/WNBA skills coach—emphasized gender-balance among their athlete and talent packages. The platform aims to equally represent young men and women at the highest level.

In addition to Anthony and Hawks All-Star Trae Young, Through The Lens also features WNBA great Candace Parker, Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier and 2020 WNBA No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu. Subscribers can also learn the secrets of top industry professionals such as Shams Charania and Cari Champion.

“I’m proud to be part of a team that’s helping set the next generation up for success by showing them that their potential on and off the court is limitless,” Melo says.

Constantly adding to his skill set, Anthony says his curiosity helped him and Bazzell choose the team of athletes for Through The Lens. Anthony wanted his 13-year-old son Kiyan to be able to learn from these players too.

Parker, a WNBA champion and MVP, was excited about the values behind the platform and the opportunity to share her actual on-court teaching and mindset.

“I am excited to be a part of a platform that not only values females in basketball but puts them as a priority,” Parker writes on Instagram.

All packages on Through The Lens showcase drills, mindsets and work ethic, as well as full-access interviews and on-court technique. For more information, visit throughthelens.com and @throughthelens on Instagram. 

—

Ryne Nelson is a Senior Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @slaman10.

Photos courtesy of Josh Sobel

The post Carmelo Anthony Launches Basketball Coaching Platform appeared first on SLAM.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Anthony understands the role expected of him in Portland and is eager to contribute for a contender in the West.

Anthony averaged 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for Portland last year as they desperately sought to fortify an injury-riddled roster. The team will have more bodies on the depth chart this year but Anthony’s scoring touch stands alone.

Portland will welcome Zach Collins back into the mix in 2020-21, not to mention Robert Covington, but Anthony will return to join them. This will be the 18th season of Anthony’s career.

The post Carmelo Anthony to Return to Portland appeared first on SLAM.

The Social Change Fund worked in collaboration with Chopra Global to team up with organizations hard at work serving large minority populations, including Teach for America, DonorsChoose and HBCU Heroes.

“Teachers have the essential role of helping to shape the minds of the next generation and our future leaders, and given the challenging year we’ve had, this partnership is more important than ever,” Anthony said in a formal press release.

The admirable collaboration is the latest in a long line of efforts that NBA players, led in large part by active veterans like Paul and Anthony, have embarked upon this year.

The organizations will provide teachers with access to self-care and mindfulness resources, including Chopra Global’s Meditation and Well-Being app geared toward enhancing the mental health and reducing the stress of its users.

“Equipping our teachers with this tool to assist them in that journey is imperative,” Paul said.

The post The Social Change Fund Partners with Chopra Global to Provide Support for Teachers appeared first on SLAM.

Where will he end up playing in the 2020-21 NBA season?

For starters, he seemed to have enjoyed his time in Portland last season. After their season ended, he had great things to say about the organization when asked about his future in the league.

“I pray that it can be Portland. Honestly, I think that I found a home in Portland. I got comfortable with the organization. I got comfortable with the guys on the team. They got comfortable with me. At this point in my career, I do think that’s the best fit for me…I really hope it can be Portland at the end of the day.”

However, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic, a Blazers reunion may not be as likely as we think. Quick writes that if Anthony were to return it would likely need to be in a different role than the one he saw on a shorthanded Blazers team in 2019-20, a more complementary role off of the bench.

There’s no guarantee that happens, Quick suggest.

The forward spots will definitely be somewhat crowded next season for Portland. Even without Anthony, they still have Trevor Ariza, Rodney Hood, Zach Collins, Nassir Little and Mario Hezonja who are all capable of playing the four.

This is something to think about for both parties. If it weren’t for injuries, this logjam at the power forward position may have been an issue even last season. Collins, Ariza, and Hood played a combined 53 regular season games, which gave Anthony more of a chance to contribute.

Next season, with everyone presumably healthy and ready to go, rotations would look a lot different.

Regardless of where he plays in 2020-21, Anthony has shown once again that he can score the ball at a high level. Known for being one of the purest scorers in the history of the league, he still can do it on the offensive end. But where could he end up if it’s not on the Blazers?

Marc Berman of the New York Post recently reported that if Chris Paul finds his way to New York through trade, Melo could follow in free agency and join him on the Knicks. Both players were represented by Knicks president Leon Rose when he was basketball chief of Creative Artists Agency.

The post What Comes Next for Carmelo Anthony? appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony, 36, is coming off a resurgent season with the Blazers and has recently said that he hopes to re-sign with Portland. But if Paul is traded to the Knicks, Anthony “is likely to want to follow,” per Berman.

The Knicks have been reportedly preparing initial trade offers to bring Paul to New York. Even if Paul goes elsewhere, Knicks president Leon Rose would be open to signing Anthony, reports Berman.

Anthony averaged 15.4 points and 6.1 boards as a full-time starter with the Blazers last season.

The post Report: Chris Paul Trade Could Lead To Carmelo Anthony’s Return to Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with former NBA forward Dorell Wright on The Player Tribune’s Text Message Talk Show, KD was transparent on a number of topics, including part of the motivation behind the number change and his mentality while rehabbing from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in 2019.

Durant fielded a number of questions that required him to list his favorites. Whether it was WNBA players, MVP winners, or Nike KDs, Durant had answers at the ready.

Asked why he switched jersey numbers away from the No. 35 he wore with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, Durant opened up about some of the NBA legends he respects.

“Wanted to try something new for this phase of my career plus ALL my favorite superstars rocked 2 numbers…..Kob, Mike, Bron…

Oh yea I can’t forget Melo”

Kobe Bryant. Michael Jordan. LeBron James. Carmelo Anthony.

Kobe and Jordan’s appearance on this list was predictable, given the scorer’s mentality that Durant shares with the Hall of Famers. Subsequently, Melo’s name being listed makes sense as well, particularly when noting that both he and Anthony played for Oak Hill Academy in high school.

On the other side of the spectrum, there’s LeBron, who KD did happen to make a song with in 2011. Still, given LeBron’s pass-first mentality, the burgeoning rivalry between the two for the title of the best player in the world, and his assertion that LeBron isn’t the greatest player of all-time, his place in Durant’s exclusive list does raise eyebrows.

The post Kevin Durant: ‘All My Favorite Superstars Rocked Two Numbers’ appeared first on SLAM.

While Anthony himself was exceptional in his seven All-Star seasons with the Knicks, averaging 24.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on .369 shooting from deep, the team never was able to make it to the conference finals. While we all know that this wasn’t Anthony’s fault, he opened up and gave his thoughts on why they weren’t able to have that success on the podcast.

The first issue in his opinion was the number of players that came in and out during his time with the team. There was never a consistent core of guys who could mesh and learn to play well together.

“I had over 100 different teammates in seven years. And you’re putting this on me?”

Anthony would go on to mention that perhaps the reason he played with so many different teammates was due to Phil Jackson, who was President of the Knicks for a good portion of Melo’s tenure in New York. Jackson wanted to implement his famous triangle offense, which meant completely re-tooling the team and picking the team apart.

“When Phil came, it was like, ‘I’m going to do it the way I want to do it…I’ve got to bring in personnel that fit the system that I’m trying to run. This guy doesn’t fit into the triangle. I don’t want these types of guys.’ So he started slowly picking the team apart and putting in his pieces that he felt would work in the triangle.”

As we all know, the triangle offense simply didn’t work in New York like it did with Jackson’s teams of the past. It was a new era of basketball, with completely different play styles that didn’t fit this old-school offense. Teams were able to adjust to this defensively and shut it down.

“When you’re playing that way for all 48 minutes, teams make adjustments, but you’re not making adjustments…You just keep playing that way and the ball will find you, right? Body movement and ball movement, that’s what it is. Wherever you pass the ball in the triangle, that dictates what happens in the offense. When you start learning that and start figuring it out from a cerebral standpoint, it’s like, if they make and adjustment we’re done. If they deny the two-guard front, we’re done. If they deny the blind pick, we’re done. So teams started to do that and get smart.

It makes sense, the triangle just wasn’t an offense that was built for the modern generation of basketball. With as many players that came through the revolving door that was the New York Knicks, there was never the cohesion and chemistry that was needed to have success in the playoffs.

The post Carmelo Anthony on Lack of Triangle Offense Success With Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

—

First and Foremost. Giving All Praise And Honor to the MOST HIGH.

“Please don’t let me die.”—Kimani Gray, 16

I CAN’T BREATHE! I STILL CAN’T BREATHE! MY ARMS ARE UP SIR! What did I do? Can you please tell me what I’ve done?

Will you ever take your knee off our necks? Is it because I’m Black? Does that scare you? Am I intimidating? What is it? WHAT IS IT?

You know what: ENOUGH is ENOUGH.

“The dark brown shades of my skin only add color to my tears.”—Syl Johnson

I thought by now these walls would have fallen! You’ve probably thought the same thing to yourself as we wait for things to change. It’s called the making of a man which is what the MOST HIGH is doing with our lives. The process is oh so sweet and bitter at the same time! It’s all part of spiritual birth. Now back to the walls!

We are in charge of the shaking that seems to go on both around us and in our lives. What we once trusted in seems to crumble. As the Bible says, everything that can be shaken shall be shaken, “so that what cannot be shaken may remain.”

Pause and think about that.

The shaking in our lives causes us to see the HATRED fall by the wayside, and what matters most is still standing!

“I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.”—Malcolm X

The mind can be the greatest manipulator if we don’t harness the power within to redirect our energy toward progress.

You are judged on how you sustain from pain and redirect that negative energy into power, and that is between you and the Most High!

I want you to know that I don’t just speak for myself. I speak for all of us.

We have to keep on pushing. We will continue to make progress. We are trying so damn hard. We can’t stop now.

Don’t lose focus. Don’t lose sight of why we are in this fight.

Peace,

Carmelo Anthony, Guest Editor-in-Chief

—

100 percent of proceeds from SLAM’s new issue will be donated to charities supporting issues impacting the Black community. Grab your copy here.

Photo by Atiba Jefferson.

Video: Vision by @coodierock, @chikeozah. Visuals by @oddsensestudios.

The post SLAM Special Issue: A Letter From Guest Editor Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

—

CLICK HERE FOR CARMELO’S EDITOR’S LETTER

CLICK HERE FOR CARMELO’S LETTER TO THE NEXT GENERATION

Carmelo Anthony and I caught up on Zoom with a lot more than six feet of social distance between us. I was in my Bed-Stuy apartment and he was in his Portland home, where I could hear echoes of his son playing in the background.

Somewhere on his journey from Brooklyn to West Baltimore to Denver to the Big Apple, Melo learned how to wield the power he earned from the game he loves—even when the game stopped loving him back.

SLAM: I went to Morehouse College, an HBCU, and am working on a movie with Will Packer about a basketball phenom who also goes to an HBCU. Do you think top prospects should go to Black colleges? Would you tell Carmelo Anthony, the high school superstar from Oak Hill, to go to an HBCU?

CARMELO ANTHONY: Young athletes today should consider going to HBCUs just as they consider going to big universities. We have to bring more awareness to HBCUs to have them supported the same way bigger universities are supported. I would tell my younger self to go to an HBCU to bring awareness. I understand the power that I have now.

SLAM: As someone who had the opportunity to go straight from high school to the League, why did you choose to go to college?

CA: I never dreamt about making it to the NBA. In high school, my goal was to get a scholarship to go to college. The people around me were surprised when people graduated from middle school, then were surprised when people graduated from high school. If you went to college, in my neighborhood, that was the biggest accomplishment. You’re going to college?! Oh shit. OK, cool, tell me what it’s like going to college. I want to go to college.

SLAM: Did any of the guys you grew up with make it to the League?

CA: No one ended up in the League. In West Baltimore, we were hardcore, we were rugged. Not to say East Baltimore wasn’t, but [in West Baltimore] we were just angry. We were ready for anything that happened. We were project kids and project living is totally different from hood living. Unless you lived in the projects, you wouldn’t understand. It was super tough, man.

I was taking it one day at a time. It was like, Oh shit, what’s gonna happen tomorrow? Whatever happens, it happens. And that’s my mentality now after all these years, because I was in that mindset and in that environment. I’ve seen people supposedly make it out of my neighborhood, but they end up right back. There really was no hope. So I wondered if I should even take basketball seriously.

SLAM: We’re in a crazy time and athletes are at the forefront representing Black people in many important conversations. Black athletes have taken on that responsibility for years, but now the platform is even bigger. What are you seeing shift in the ways that Black athletes are speaking up right now?

CA: We’ve realized our voices are strong and will be heard. Financially, we’re in better situations than the athletes that came before us. We can take chances because we’re more financially stable. We can go out there and say, No, we aren’t going to stand for this. Athletes in the ’60s weren’t paid like us today. It was hard for them to come together. Many athletes didn’t get on board with [civil rights activism] because their money was being controlled by someone else. They were controlled by a bigger power, the white man. They couldn’t go against that because their family would say, Just be quiet. Keep moving. Don’t say nothing because you’ll jeopardize us as a family.

SLAM: I wonder when you guys will create a league of your own, competitive to the NBA. What do you think about that concept?

CA: Conceptually, it’s a very good idea. But just like anything else [that’s] successful, it takes time to build. Maybe it could happen in 10 years. But if that’s what we want to do, we have to start laying that foundation now. We have the backing financially if we really want to create our own league. But you need people on board. You need everybody to understand that this is a long play. You gotta be strategic because you’ll be going up against a bigger conglomerate in the NBA. We can go raise money, that’s not the issue. But everything else will take time.

SLAM: You became a basketball star as a junior in high school. How did your mind process fame and expectations at such a young age?

CA: My mind didn’t process it because I never looked at fame. I had the small town Baltimore city mentality that nobody looks at us. It’s all about somebody else. I always felt like I had to do extra. It was like, Yo, we’re going to play against Bron, we’re going to play against this person. Let’s go rock. Let’s go get it.

SLAM: Did you feel the pressure in the National Championship game you won at Syracuse? Or when you played for the Olympic Gold medal?

CA: No, I didn’t. And I think people misinterpret that, as if I don’t care about those moments. It’s not that I didn’t care. I care more than many people. What I’ve done shows that. But when you grow up the way I did, you’re programmed to believe that nothing else around you matters. It’s all about you in that moment and whatever happens in that moment. So it took me a long time to grasp the fact that I won a National Championship. I never watched the National Championship game until a couple years ago. Even with the Olympics, I never looked at them as winning the biggest shit ever. That’s why I never felt pressure in those situations.

SLAM: Do you have any favorite teammates from your career?

CA: JR Smith. We were brothers. I would say Allen Iverson for the short period that we played together. I’ve learned so much from his mentality. I learned how to approach the game. The team in Denver, we were together so much that they started calling us the “Denver Thuggets.” I’ve created bonds with all of these guys, and I think when the narratives come out about me being a bad teammate, you never hear my old teammates say any of that.

SLAM: Only reporters say that. None of the people who actually know you have a bad word to say about you.

CA: I pride myself on that. That stems from treating everybody the same way. I treat the person who is cleaning my house the same way I treat President Obama. It’s respect.

SLAM: Do you feel like the intelligence of NBA players is underrated?

CA: Absolutely. Hence why you keep hearing: Just shut up and dribble. There was a time when we weren’t allowed to give our opinions on religion or politics or whatever. That’s changing now. We took back that power, and that’s because guys are becoming more knowledgeable about the situation that we are in.

SLAM: Who was more fun to go out with, JR Smith or Allen Iverson?

CA: See, I had both of them together on the Nuggets [laughs]. We were like The Beatles when we hit the road. You had myself, young JR Smith, AI, Kenyon Martin, Marcus Camby. We were rolling when we came into town. We had a show. But we also were known to party. I’m talking ’bout ’05, ’06, ’07. We’re gonna party the night before, we’re gonna hang out, we’re gonna have a good time, but also you know you gotta come to play against us. And that was something that I learned from playing on those teams. It was like, Dang, how can AI party like this but then you’re coming out here and giving 40?

And then I went to New York where we always had each other’s backs. We corrected each other. We held each other accountable. If there was something going on, we sat in that locker room and called people out. What’s the problem? What’s going on? Why you mad? Let’s bring this to the forefront, put it out there on the table. Fuck it. We’re going to play basketball now. And there’s no accountability like that nowadays.

SLAM: Why not?

CA: Guys are a little more sensitive now. The League is getting younger to where you can’t really have those conversations. Now, what you’re dealing with is, if you’re mad at me and I’m mad at you, everybody else knows that. Everybody else has their opinions, social media, comments, Twitter, this, that, everybody else gets involved. There isn’t the same privacy. And we had social media back then, but we wouldn’t allow that social media to seep into our locker room.

SLAM: What did you feel in your body the night you scored a Madison Square Garden-record 62 points?

CA: Before the game, I’m sitting in the locker room putting my headphones on. Our team therapist used to talk to us and give us motivational speeches to listen to and everybody had their own person that they listened to. My person was Muhammad Ali. So he gave me a Muhammad Ali motivational speech. Ali kept saying, “Imma show you how great I am. I’ma show you how great I am.” I watched this shit probably 20 times before the game. I leaned over to [Iman] Shumpert and I was like, Yo, we’re gonna get it. Today’s gonna be a good day. I’m locked in.

On the court it was just like, I’ma show you how great I am. I was just super zoned out and I felt it all over. It was just an overall vibration that I had.

SLAM: I’ve been living here in New York for about a decade. There’s a special connection between you and this city. Why?

CA: Because the people of the city feel like they can grab me. They can touch me. They can relate to me. They can talk to me. They see me in the Whole Foods. They see me in the corner bodega. They see me at the juice bar. I was in the streets. There were times where people had to reel me back, like, Melo, chill, you doing too much.

I always say, people can sense through bullshit. People know who’s authentic and who’s not. My authenticity got me to a point with New York where I’m a major part of that city. I wanted to go to New York for that reason. I wanted to help put the city on my back. I wanted to take on that challenge. And I wanted to show everybody that no matter what happens, no matter what the narrative is, I’m gonna always come to play. I’m gonna smile through the bullshit, and I’m gonna bring people along with me. And the city felt that.

SLAM: Last year, many basketball fans were scared we were never going to see you play again. And then you came back to one of the weirdest NBA seasons ever. Are you glad you came back?

CA: Yes, I’m glad I came back. Is it a weird season? Hell yeah. It’s weird that I lost my brother Kobe. And that was the beginning of destruction for everything. So this season will be a season that I will never forget.

I wanted to come back badly, but it had to be right. I got to a point where I was willing to walk away from the League. I stand on the truth. I stand on being real. I stand on being honest with people. I’d rather you come to me and be like, We’re cutting our ties with you. It was a respect thing that I was looking for. I felt like I put so much work into this game. I put 15, 16 years into this game.

I was messed up for a while. I had to rebuild myself. I had to keep myself motivated, but I also disconnected from the game. Not watch it. Not look at it. Not listen to it. I had to get my mental right. I had to get my emotional side right. I had to get a better understanding of what this game really was from a business standpoint. And once I got that, I was clear. It was like, Whatever happens is gonna happen, but I’m giving this game up. It’s not for me.

There was one thing I kept saying to myself: The game doesn’t love me the way that I love the game anymore.

We all have to face that one day. I feel like the game doesn’t love me the way that I love the game. I needed to get away for a while. And then if the game came back or I came back, I thought things would be different. And as you can see, that’s what happened. I ended up in a totally different situation with an opportunity in Portland. They gave me an opportunity to come back and they also gave me a platform to go out there and continue to showcase what I can do at a high level.

—

100 percent of proceeds from SLAM’s new issue will be donated to the Social Change Fund. Grab your copy here.

Chad Sanders is a contributor to SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @Chad_Sand.

Portraits by Atiba Jefferson.

Styling by Khalilah Beavers.

The post Guest Editor Carmelo Anthony Talks About His Journey and NBA Activism appeared first on SLAM.

—

Along with a group of philanthropists and entrepreneurs, NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade have launched the Social Change Fund, which aims to support critical and timely issues impacting the Black community.

Here’s the mission statement from the fund’s website: “Our mission is to invest in and support organizations that are working to liberate Black people and advocate for indigenous people and communities of color through the lens of policy solutions, community representation and narrative change. Our partner organizations work to accelerate social change and sustainably build a fair, equitable society.”

Paul, Wade and Anthony have long been outspoken about systemic racism, police brutality, criminal justice reform and more. They have been leaders throughout the Black Lives Matter movement, using their respective platforms to continue to push for change.

“The Social Change Fund will help advance racial equality and opportunity,” said Paul, per the press release. “We will unite with other individuals who share our vision and commitment to use our collective voices and resources to advocate for change and foster a more equitable future.”

“The magnitude of racial inequality is staggering with Black lives socially, politically and economically marginalized,” added Wade. “We are committed to supporting organizations that directly represent and benefit the Black community with the Social Change Fund. Our goal is to create a pathway for inclusion and success by deploying the necessary funds and resources to invest in long-term change.”

“When all else fails to organize us, conditions will,” Anthony said. “We established the Social Change Fund to invest in and support organizations working to champion criminal justice reform, enact policy solutions, and advocate for the human rights of all Black lives now and for generations to come. I stand for everything this Fund and its beneficiaries support and will not stop pushing for progress until we see an end to the systemic racism that the Black community has faced for too long. We will keep on pushing. We will not lose focus.”

Melo recently served as the Guest Editor-in-Chief of SLAM’s #ItStopsNow issue focused on social justice and activism as seen through the lens of basketball. He appears on the cover (below) with his son Kiyan.

100 percent of proceeds from the magazine will be donated to the Social Change Fund.  Grab your copy here.

For more information on the Social Change Fund, visit their website.

The post Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade Launch ‘Social Change Fund’ appeared first on SLAM.

P.E.A.C.E. youngin’—

You may feel stuck. You may feel lost. You may be confused. I’m sure you have so many questions. The unknown is what keeps you up at night, but I want you to know your thoughts are POWERFUL. Believe me when I say this, you will get through this fog and uncertainty. Know you can do anything you set your mind to. Learn to trust your instinct. Get rid of that doubt. challenge your fears, overcome them and make them your strengths. Your circumstances do not define who you are as a young man, especially a black boy. It’s hard for me to tell you not to be afraid. I’m still afraid.

The struggle of life is, and always will be, a struggle against your own weakness. Will you become cowardly and think, “I can’t do this. I’m certain to fail”? Or will you challenge the difficulties that lie ahead with the courage of your convictions and tell yourself, “I AM STRONG! oh, and by the way, I’M BLACK AND I’M PROUD”? You’re probably questioning whether or not you can become stronger still. Your destiny in life will vary greatly depending on the spirit that you maintain and where you allow it to take you. Just like anything else in life, there will be good and there will be evil. The key is in how you work to overcome that evil, and harness that energy to turn it into power.

Remember these words: LOVE, HELL and RIGHT. If you love it, you will go through hell and with time and patience you will come out right!!!!!!

As long as you know that, you will be able to pick out the chicken from the chicken bones. (I know, that’s deep.)

Growing up, I always thought it was cliché when people told me, “Life is what you make it” or “Be all you can be.”

Now that I’m wiser, I understand how much those words influenced me. I want you to know you are the future. No, really—you are the future!

P.E.A.C.E.

—

100 percent of proceeds from SLAM’s new issue will be donated to charities supporting issues impacting the Black community. Grab your copy here.

Photos by Atiba Jefferson.

The post Carmelo Anthony’s Letter to Future Kings and Queens appeared first on SLAM.

“I believe we’d have won many more,” says Brown, who was at the helm when they won the 2004 title.

Not everyone who was on that squad agrees, of course, and this what-if simply refuses to die.

Per Bleacher Report (via Sirius XM NBA):

Detroit won the NBA title in 2004 during Brown’s first season with the team and reached the NBA Finals in his second and final year. The team went on to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the next three years but couldn’t win another championship.

[Darko] Milicic was part of the title team but made a minimal contribution while averaging 1.4 points per game. He was traded after two seasons in Detroit and averaged just 6.0 points per game in his career.

“You walk in a room with guys like that, you’re going to figure it out,” Brown said.

“And I think Carmelo would have had that.”

Related Larry Brown: Pistons Said They Were Drafting Carmelo Anthony in 2003

The post Larry Brown: Detroit Would Have ‘Many More’ Titles With Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

Melo would’ve disrupted Detroit’s locker room chemistry, says Wallace.

The Pistons won the 2004 championship after picking Darko Milicic.

Per NBC Sports (via 120 Watts The Podcast):

“If we would’ve drafted Carmelo, I honestly don’t think we would have ever won a championship,” Wallace said.

“Melo wanted to play right away. It would have had the potential to disrupt the team chemistry … By drafting Darko, he came in and said that he is not ready to play on this team. Who I am going to play in front of. I’m not ready, and by him doing that and accepting his role, it allowed us to build and grow and get stronger and eventually win a championship …

“If we drafted Carmelo, Tayshaun [Prince] wouldn’t blossom to be the type of a player that he way. We won that championship on the back of the best block I’ve ever seen in my life, and I blocked a lot of shots. That is the type of grit and grind that the team had.”

Related Chauncey Billups: Pistons ‘Would’ve Won Three’ Titles With Carmelo Anthony

The post Ben Wallace: Pistons Wouldn’t Have Won Title With Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

Chauncey Billups concurs, adding that his Detroit squads “would’ve won three championships”—they ended up with just one—if they hadn’t instead gone with Darko Milicic.

Anthony, 35, built a Hall of Fame career largely in Denver, and says his Nuggets would’ve have swept the NBA Finals in 2009 had they gotten that far.

Per NBC Sports:

Anthony on Instagram with Dwyane Wade: “I was sick, because we were supposed to beat them that year. I don’t like saying ‘We should have.’ I don’t like saying all that. But when you re-evaluate everything. We really wanted Orlando in that Finals that year. We was like, ‘If we get Game 1 in L.A. or Game 2, we’re going back to Denver, we’re sweeping them.’ We was going to beat them. We was going to beat them that year if we would’ve won in L.A. If we would’ve won both games, we would’ve beat them. And we would’ve swept Orlando that year.”

Wade: “Orlando was alright, but they weren’t…”

Anthony: “No, would’ve swept them. We would’ve swept them that year.”

Related Chauncey Billups: ‘Scoring 30 Meant Too Much’ to Carmelo Anthony

The post Chauncey Billups: Pistons ‘Would’ve Won Three’ Titles With Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

Karl, it should be noted, never won a NBA title as a head coach.

Melo also made his former coach’s list of his “top 5 starters.”

Related Carmelo Anthony: George Karl’s Comments Are ‘Irrelevant to Me’

The post George Karl: ‘I Wish I Had Done a Better Job’ Coaching Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

Carmelo Anthony knows about questions. When he entered the NBA as part of the greatest draft class in recent years, his name was already synonymous with LeBron James. Cue the questions. Who’d be better? Who would be ROY? Others questioned whether he should’ve been picked second instead of third. Could he have won a championship with the Pistons his rookie season? Questions. By the time he hit his fourth SLAM cover in November 2009, Melo had carried the previously laughable Denver Nuggets to a winning record. The team now dripped with an appeal based on performance, as well as their baby blue jerseys.

Melo was a walking bucket, but could he become the two-way player that he needed to be? Could he take the Nuggets deeper into the playoffs? Even when he was joined by The Answer in 2008, there were still questions. When SLAM asked Carmelo to rock the cover of Issue 132, he (according to former SLAM Editor at Large, Lang Whitaker) asked to do so in a director’s chair to show that he was in charge of his life and career. He went on to have elite Olympic performances, which earned him three gold medals. He would join the chaotic Knicks and bring them something they hadn’t experienced this millennium: hope. But could he win a championship? Would he take a lesser role on a better team or would he always want to be “the guy?” More questions. The NBA is a better place with Melo in it, so I ask the question that rings out on Issue 132: Why are you still hating on Carmelo Anthony?

The post The SLAM Archives: SLAM 132 Featuring Carmelo Anthony From November of 2009 appeared first on SLAM.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that multiple league executives expect Rose to be interested in a reunion with the future Hall of Famer who spent seven seasons with the franchise.

Anthony has bounced around the NBA since his last stint with the Knicks ended in 2017 and his journey bottomed out earlier this season when he sat unsigned for the first month of the regular season.

Ultimately Anthony signed on with the Portland Trail Blazers and has enjoyed a solid campaign contributing for a playoff hopeful that’s been inundated with long-term injuries.

In 44 games in 2019-20, Anthony has averaged 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game but his deal lasts only through the current campaign, putting him back on the open market next summer.

While pursuing a 36-year-old player may not be a typical move for a new executive charged with the task of jumpstarting a rebuild, Anthony’s ties to the franchise are strong and the move would make headlines.

The post Report: New Knicks Pres. Expected To Be Interested In Carmelo Anthony Reunion appeared first on SLAM.

“This is where I want to retire,” says Anthony.

The 35-year-old future Hall of Famer inked a one-year, $2.15 million deal with the Blazers in November.

Per The Portland Tribune:

“I’m happy,” he said during an interview after Tuesday’s practice session. “I like the group a lot. When I came in, it was like a welcome-home party. I come in and it’s, ‘Thank you for coming’ from everybody.

“The coaches have been phenomenal with me. We talk almost every day about things I could do to help out with the team and with the young players — things I need to be doing. I’ve been on board with everyone and everything from Day One.”

So much so that, when asked if he’d like to re-sign with the Blazers after the season, Anthony’s response was immediate.

“I would love to stay,” he said. “I feel like this is the place for me to end my career. It could have happened earlier, but it didn’t. Now, where I’m at in my life and my career — this is where I want to retire.”

Related Carmelo Anthony: ‘This Ain’t a Damn Farewell Tour’

The post Carmelo Anthony: ‘I Feel Like This is the Place for Me to End My Career’ appeared first on SLAM.

Both point guards were hit with technical fouls for loudly jawing at one another, and Lillard says “it’s always something” when they face off.

The Portland Trail Blazers left Houston with a 117-107 victory, and Westbrook took it upon himself to galvanize the dejected Rockets, who are admittedly “getting rocked right now.”

Per The Athletic:

“Fucking sitting there, talking that shit. Fuck ’em,” Westbrook said, almost preaching to the rest of his teammates who hung their heads as they walked with him to the room.

A meeting that was originally called by (Mike) D’Antoni turned into one that was led by Westbrook. Despite having been with the team for less than six months, it was Westbrook who spoke up and addressed the team. Not to chastise or scold anyone, but more of a call to action. A call to return to Rockets basketball, to defend better, to play with more energy and effort, and more importantly, to get everyone on the same page.

“You’re gonna have nights like tonight where people got things to say after,” (Austin) Rivers told The Athletic. “Nothing negative, I can really honestly say that. Everything was positive. Russell really led the way. Russell was the only one who really talked. He just kind of addressed the team and things we have to do better as a unit, as a whole. And everybody agreed with him, so it was a good talk.”

Four minutes into the fourth quarter, with the Blazers up by 14, Westbrook had Lillard in the post—a commonplace for Westbrook against smaller defenders, but especially for Lillard. Lillard fouled him, yanking Westbrook on the arm. “A foul is a bucket,” Westbrook said shaking his head in a bravado. “He can’t guard me.”

“That’s just part of when me and him play against each other,” Lillard said. “It seems like it’s always something.”

Related Damian Lillard Calls Matchup With Russell Westbrook a ‘Moment of Truth’

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It was the Melo show in Toronto tonight. He dropped a season-high 28 points on 10-17 shooting, including a game-winning pull-up jumper with 3 seconds left to lift the Blazers to the impressive road win. Damian Lillard added 20 points and Hassan Whiteside finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds for Portland. For the Raptors, Kyle Lowry dropped 24 in the loss.

Pistons 115 (14-24), Cavaliers 113 (10-27)

Detroit outscored Cleveland 31-18 in the fourth quarter, and Derrick Rose hit a smooth go-ahead floater with 26 seconds left to secure the win on the road. The bucket gave Rose 2 of his team-high 24 points, and Andre Drummond was a monster again, finishing with 23 points and 20 rebounds. Kevin Love led the Cavs in the loss, dropping 30 points on 12-15 shooting.

Thunder 111 (21-16), Nets 103 (16-20)

After Chris Paul tied the game with a pull-up jumper, Spencer Dinwiddie missed a free throw in the final seconds, sending the game to OT. The Thunder outscored the Nets 10-2 in overtime, giving struggling Brooklyn their 7th straight loss. CP3 was awesome, dropping 20 of his game-high 28 in the fourth quarter and OT. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his stellar play, dropping 22 for OKC. The nets were lead by Taurean Prince, who finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Caris LeVert, who dropped 20 off the bench.

Grizzlies 119 (16-22), Timberwolves 112 (14-22)

The Grizzlies scored 37 fourth quarter points to secure their third win in a row. Memphis was led by Ja Morant, who finished with 25 points (12-18 FG) and 7 assists, and Dillon Brooks, who dropped a game-high 28 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points in the win. For Minnesota, the rookie Jarrett Culver finished with a season-high 24 points on 8-11 shooting.

Kings 114 (15-23), Suns 103 (14-23)

The Kings stormed back late to beat the Suns, winning the fourth quarter by a score of 36-16. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 27 points and 6 assists, and Nemanja Bjelica added 19 points and 7 rebounds. For Phoenix, Devin Booker dropped 34, his seventh straight game with 30+ points. Deandre Ayton added 21 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

Lakers 117 (30-7), Knicks 87 (10-27)

The Lakers dominated the Knicks throughout to pick up their 30th win of the season. LeBron James led the way, finishing with 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Anthony Davis left the game in the third quarter after a scary fall, but x-rays on his lower back were negative. For the Knicks, RJ Barrett dropped a team-high 19 points.

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Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 26 points on 11-for-17 shooting in his return to Madison Square Garden, but the rest of the Trail Blazers shot just 33.8 percent from the field as the Knicks won their third straight game.

Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson each scored 22 apiece to lead New York. Frank Ntilikina (9 points, 10 assists, 2 blocks) had a team-best +23 plus-minus in 23 minutes off the bench.

Timberwolves 104 (12-20), Bucks 106 (30-5)

Giannis Antetokounmpo continued to do MVP things, racking up 32 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks for Milwaukee.

The Timberwolves were without Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, but double-digit points from four players off the bench kept things close as they took the NBA’s winningest team the distance.

Shabazz Napier scored a team-high 22 for Minnesota.

Magic 122 (15-19), Wizards 101 (10-23)

DJ Augustin scored 25 off the bench and Markelle Fultz racked up 16 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and two steals as Orlando outscored the Wizards in each period.

Bradley Beal scored a game-high 27 in his return to the lineup.

Suns 107 (13-21), Lakers 117 (27-7)

It took some time to see LeBron James and Anthony Davis finally team up, but it was worth the wait. James had a 31-point triple-double and Davis added 26 points and 11 boards in Los Angeles’ first game of the decade.

The Lakers led by as many as 36 after a 43-point first quarter, but their bench unit struggled as Devin Booker (32 points, 7 assists) and Kelly Oubre (26 points, 3 steals) led the comeback charge that fell short.

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Philadelphia pulled away late in this one, outscoring Boston 34-29 in the final frame. Joel Embiid set the tone with 38 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. Kemba Walker scored 29 points and contributed 8 assists.

Cavaliers 117 (6-19), Spurs 109 (9-15)

Kevin Love dominated as his name has begun to pop up in trade rumors. Love put in a double-double of 30 points and 17 rebounds in the OT win. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 21 points.

Mavericks 122 (17-7), Pistons 111 (10-15)

Luka Doncic registered the second 40-point triple-double of his career on Thursday. Doncic, who heard MVP chants by the end of the game, put up 41 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Andre Drummond scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for Detroit.

Blazers 99 (10-15), Nuggets 114 (14-8)

Carmelo Anthony returned to Denver once again, but it was the Nuggets who came away with the win. Anthony scored 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Nikola Jokic impressed with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.

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Anthony, 35, spent seven seasons in New York.

Melo says the franchise expressed some interest in a reunion last summer.

Per The NY Post:

“Do I think about it? Anybody would want to get that opportunity if it’s there. We’ll see when that time comes. Hopefully, they’ll hang ‘7’ somewhere up there,” Anthony said.

Anthony confirmed an SNY report last week that his agent attempted to get him to the Knicks if Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving came and the club showed some interest.

Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose, also attempted to land him with the two stars after they signed with the Nets, but Brooklyn opted for Lance Thomas instead.

Related Carmelo Anthony: ‘Not Everybody Can Deal’ With Playing for the Knicks

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“Not too many people” can handle the pressure cooker that comes with donning a Knicks jersey, according to Anthony.

Melo says he relished the challenge of being The Man at Madison Square Garden for six seasons.

Per The NY Post:

“Not everybody can deal with (playing for the Knicks),” Anthony said to a small group of New York writers. “Not even a star, but role players. Not too many people can deal with what comes with that. I don’t want to say pressure, but everything that comes along with wearing the Knicks across the chest.”

[Kevin] Durant said he didn’t want the Knicks because it’s no longer “cool” to play for the franchise that is set to miss the playoffs a seventh straight season.

“I don’t think it surprised me,” Anthony said. “We all read Durant’s quotes. We know what he said. Whether you agreed with it or not, people have different perspectives about it. It’s not just ‘the Knicks and we’re going to get somebody,’ and it’s a guarantee. Nowadays players aren’t thinking about that. They want to go into a situation where they can enjoy and have fun and not have to deal with that. You have to deal with it in Brooklyn anyway, but it’s not the same. It’s not the same.”

Anthony took New York head on – no matter how his seven seasons are viewed.

“I wanted it,” the 35-year-old said. “I wanted to take that challenge. Whether I failed at it or not. I wanted to be able to say I did it. I took it upon myself to say, ‘Give me it.’ I wanted that challenge. Not everybody has that same mentality.”

Related Kevin Durant: ‘The Cool Thing Now is Not the Knicks’

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The Trail Blazers have effectively auditioned the 35-year-old since they signed him last month and Anthony hasn’t disappointed. In his eight games with the Blazers, he’s averaged 16.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

More importantly, the Blazers, who were 5-9 when they signed Anthony, have gone 4-4 since the addition and they’ve won four of their past five. The forward has played a significant part in the turnaround, too.

Anthony has averaged 21.8 points per game over the course of those four wins and is on pace for the second-best three-point shooting season of his 17-year career, knocking down .387 of his shots from beyond the arc.

The decision to guarantee Anthony’s contract is an obvious one for the team benefiting from his production but a difficult one nonetheless given how deep into the luxury tax they are. The Blazers already have over $145 million in guaranteed money on their books, even prior to Anthony’s additional veteran minimum cap hit.

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Anthony, however, refuses to “allow that negativity to creep in.”

Melo averaged 22.3 points and 7.7 rebounds, shooting 57.4 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from behind the arc while helping lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 3-0 record last week.

Per Yahoo Sports:

“I’ve seen the chatter, but I won’t allow myself to pay attention to that because I’ve come too far to start listening to that bull—-, to be honest with you,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “I won’t allow that negativity to creep in. I’ve worked so hard to get to that point mentally and emotionally. I won’t even let it happen.”

Harden averaged 47 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and shot 53.1 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from beyond the arc to lead his team to a 2-0 record. His week was highlighted by a 60-point performance in three quarters against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Doncic averaged 30.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, nine assists, and shot 42.6 percent from the floor and 24.1 percent from long distance as the Mavs went 2-1 last week. He had a 42-point outing at Phoenix on Friday and was twice a rebound shy of securing a triple-double.

“I’m very honored to have won the award,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “It just speaks to the hard work I put in to stay ready for this moment. I have nothing but respect for [Harden and Doncic]. I didn’t make the decision, but I’m grateful that I won the award.

Related Carmelo Anthony Was ‘Ready to Walk Away’ from the Game

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Anthony, 35, says joining the Portland Trail Blazers last month once again made him “feel wanted” after being out of the League for over a year.

Melo adds that his body and mind are fresh, and has no plans to “walk away from the game” anytime soon.

Per ESPN:

“I was preparin’ myself,” Anthony said. “And I had prepared myself to kinda just walk away from the game — if the right situation didn’t come about.”

Anthony, who played in just 10 games last season as a member of the Houston Rockets, could not find a job until the struggling Blazers came calling.

“I say that because I know what I can do,” Anthony said. “So if I were just to go to a team and to a situation just to be on the team and it didn’t work out, it was gonna come back on me anyway. Like, the blame is gonna be on me anyway. So a situation like Portland, where I could just come in and just play my game and have a group of guys that really want me, and the organization that want me.

“There’s no better feelin’ than when you feel wanted. And I think that’s what kinda keeps me motivated and understandin’, like, this situation is — it is and was the best situation for me.”

Throughout his sabbatical from the league, Anthony was outspoken in his belief he could still play.

“I was ready to walk away, yeah,” Anthony said. “It was hard. But there came a point when I was, like, ‘You know what? I’ve given a lot to this game. I played 15, 16 years in this game. I’m ready to give it up, because I just knew that at that point in time from a basketball standpoint, that narrative that it — it was already out there. So I’d been fightin’ an uphill battle anyway if I didn’t go to the right situation.”

Related Paul George: ‘I Just Hate the Narratives’ Around Carmelo Anthony

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Evan Fournier put up 31 points in DC. Markelle Fultz had a career-high 20 points and D.J. Augustin had 24 bench points.

Pistons 127 (8-13), Cavaliers 94 (5-15)

Blake Griffin scored a point for each minute he played, finishing the night with 24 points, including six 3-pointers. Andre Drummond posted another double-double (17 points, 14 rebounds). All five of Detroit’s starters sat the fourth quarter in the rout.

Mavericks 118 (14-6), Pelicans 97 (6-15)

Luka Doncic, the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month, had a 33-point, 18-rebound performance in the Big Easy. Seth Curry contributed 19 off the bench, and Tim Hardaway and Max Kleber finished with 12 apiece.

Heat 121 (15-5), Raptors 110 (15-5)

Jimmy Butler scored eight consecutive points in less than a minute in overtime to finish with 22 points to go with his 13 rebounds and 12 assists. Bam Adebayo scored 18 and Justise Winslow had 17 as the Heat snapped the Raptors’ seven-game winning streak and gave them their first home loss this season.

Lakers 105 (18-3), Nuggets 96 (13-5)

The Lakers started 1-0 on their three-game road trip at the Pepsi Center as LeBron James (25 points) and Anthony Davis (25 points) combined for 50 points. Dwight Howard had 13 and 6 off the bench. The Lakers face Utah tomorrow night.

Spurs 135 (8-14), Rockets 133 (13-7)

With the game on the line in double OT, DeMar DeRozan sank two free throws to give San Antonio the W at the AT&T Center. Lonnie Walker IV had a career-high 28 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer to send it to overtime.

Clippers 117 (16-6), Trailblazers 97 (8-13)

Paul George scored a team-high 25 points, his 6th 25-point game this season as the Clippers have won 9 of their last 10 games. Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverly had 11 apiece.

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The LA Clippers star is happy with Portland “prolonging” Anthony’s Hall of Fame career.

Kawhi Leonard added that he was unhappy with how Melo was treated while being out of the League for over a year.

The 35-year-old was named Player of the Week, an honor he last won in March, 2014, while starring for the New York Knicks.

Per ESPN:

“I mean, it’s great,” George said of Anthony, who is averaging 17.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in six games since joining the Blazers after not playing since November 2018. “I just hate how [his] first game, Melo came back, the whole media was [focused on] his plus-minus was this and him being on the floor, Portland generated this, and now he’s playing well and the media is [pointing out how] three games straight where he did this.

“I just hate the narratives that’s created by him being back,” George added about critics focused on Anthony’s style of play. “Melo has been a great player, he’s going to be a great player, he’s playing terrific from start to finish, and shoutout to Portland for opening that door back up for Melo and prolonging his career.”

Leonard said he is happy to see Anthony back and that it was unfair the former All-Star forward was unsigned for so long.

“He is able to get an opportunity and get a chance to go out there and pretty much be himself,” Leonard said. “I’m just happy for him that he was able to get back in the NBA. It is well deserved. I don’t think he was treated the right way, how they left him out there being a future Hall of Famer.

“As you can see, he’s still running up and down the floor, so he’s still got a lot of basketball left in him. It’s going to be a fun matchup for us.”

Related ‘We’ve Got Another Mega Star’: Carmelo Anthony Shines in Blazers Home Debut”

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Damian Lillard led the way for Portland with 27 points in a 136-119 win against the OKC Thunder, and says Portland has now “got another mega star.”

Five games into his NBA return, Anthony has “found that happiness” in Rip City.

Per The Oregonian:

“It’s fun to see,” Lillard said of the “Me-lo” chants. “We’ve got another mega star, a Hall of Famer … and the fans are excited about it, as they should be. I think it’s a point in his career where he needs that type of support. He needs people behind him and to feel good about what he’s doing. So it was great to witness. We all want to be a part of his comeback. We want to see it work out. We want to see him get the respect that he’s due. So to see how the crowd responded to him, it’s really good to see and be a part of. And it’s also … a spark and some energy that our team needed. It’s fun to see.”

The flow is back in coach Terry Stotts’ flow offense.

“Obviously he presents a different challenge for the other team, just from a respect standpoint,” Lillard said. “They’ve got to honor another guy so it can change (defensive) coverages, it can change how much a team wants to help, who they help off of, just having another threat like him out there. So I think it’s partly him being who he is.”

Related Carmelo Anthony: ‘This Ain’t a Damn Farewell Tour’

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Melo inked a non-guaranteed $2.15 million deal with the struggling Portland Trail Blazers, and has so far been a welcome addition. 

The 35-year-old, 10-time NBA All-Star is four games into his return to the League, and says he is certainly “not thinking about retiring right now.”

Per The Athletic:

“This ain’t a damn farewell tour,” Anthony said. “My love for the game don’t stop. I don’t know where this ‘farewell tour’ thing came from. I’ve never talked about a farewell tour. I know what I can do and I believe in myself. When a farewell tour comes, it comes. That’s not something I think about. I’m not thinking about retiring right now. I had (thought about it) during this past stretch over the summer. But ain’t no retiring in my mind. I believe in what I have left.”

Anthony had a standout fourth game for Portland (6-12), scoring 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting in the Trail Blazers‘ blowout road win over Chicago to close out their road trip. He passed Alex English for 18th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

“It’s been very validating returning to the floor,” Anthony said. “From the standpoint of to know the amount of talk being said about me, versus the amount of support that I had. I think the amount of support outweighs all the negativity and what was said. The frustrating part was someone coming up with a narrative, then everybody just piggybacking off of it.

“A narrative that nobody even knew what happened or what was going on. That was the frustrating part.”

Related Carmelo Anthony: Jared Dudley ‘Wasn’t Keeping a Roster Spot from Me’

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“You can’t blame him for what I went through,” Anthony says.

Melo, who inked a non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers this week, also downplayed any on-court beef he may have had with Dudley in the past.

Per Yahoo Sports:

“Me and Jared Dudley had some issues in the past, man, but I started feeling bad for him a little bit,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “I mean, not feeling bad, but it’s just like, ‘Leave that man alone.’ It’s not his fault. Teams that wanted him, they wanted a specific role, and that’s why they picked him up. I had to tell some guys to lay off. He wasn’t keeping a roster spot from me. That wasn’t the case. The [treatment] he received wasn’t right.”

Anthony expounded on the issues he had with Dudley.

“Man, it was just some game s— in [competition],” he told Yahoo Sports. “S— that happened on the court. Nothing serious. We don’t have any problems.”

It’s been a long journey to get back to where he belongs, but it was that experience — which caused so much unnecessary vitriol directed toward Dudley — he said he won’t take for granted.

“Yeah, [Dudley] didn’t deserve that,” Anthony told Yahoo Sports. “We were in different situations. You can’t blame him for what I went through.”

Related Carmelo Anthony: ‘The NBA Has Changed’

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One of his trainers, Alex Bazzell, says Melo “completely bought into” stepping up his defense and not holding on to the ball as he’d grown accustomed to throughout a Hall of Fame career.

The 35-year-old finished with 18 points Thursday night in his second game for the struggling Portland Trail Blazers, a 137-129 road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Per SNY:

“The biggest thing was making quick decisions off the catch. He’s had the luxury of being one of the top 10 players in the world, in my opinion — top 5 players at one time — in his career. So he just got accustomed to kind of holding the ball, letting everyone else clear out so he can kind of go one on one. In the new NBA, in the role that he’s being asked of, that wasn’t something he was going to be able to do more often than not.

“So we were working on moving without the ball because that’s something I saw on film he didn’t do very well. Especially coming from — let’s face it, Houston’s offense is four guys standing and watching James (Harden) dribble the ball for 20 seconds. It’s tough. So we worked on getting used to (moving without the ball). Getting used to the actions of catching. His footwork efficiency with rips and jabs and all of that off the catch. He’s as smart a player as you’re going to find. There’s a reason that he’s scored as many points as he has. So it was just getting him comfortable with moving in different ways than he has in the past.”

[Bazzell] says Anthony, 35, was very much open to making changes to his game:

“He was actually extremely receptive. I was actually kind of surprised that a guy who has had that much success playing a certain way (was so receptive). He was completely bought into the (idea that on) the defensive side of the ball, he’s got to get better. He was bought into not being able to hold the ball (on offense). We would still work on his mid-post because I think that’s going to be a part of his game that he’s going to have to rely on to score every now and then. You don’t take that away, you keep all of that fresh. When we would play one-on-one scenarios, when he’d catch, it’s hard because sometimes you just have a tendency to hold it, relax and kind of let the defense make a mistake. It was just trying to break habits that he’s built up for so long and he was never defensive about it. He was always 100 percent in agreement with what I was saying, which makes my job and my life 100 percent easier.”

Related Damian Lillard: Carmelo Anthony Did Nothing to ‘Get kicked out of the League’

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Giannis Antetokounmpo put in an MVP performance against the Blazers, registering a triple-double of 24 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists. Eric Bledsoe added a team-high 30 points in the win.

Without Damian Lillard for the second straight game, CJ McCollum stepped up with 37 points. Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points.

Pelicans 124 (6-9), Suns 121 (7-7)

New Orleans pulled ahead late in this back-and-forth game thanks to Brandon Ingram. Ingram finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds and several timely buckets in the fourth quarter.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 25 points in the loss.

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“It wasn’t like Melo did something crazy to get kicked out of the league,” Lillard said following his new teammate’s Tuesday night debut for the Trail Blazers.

Anthony, 35, told reporters that he had nearly “let go” of his NBA dreams prior to inking a non-guaranteed deal in Portland.

Per The Athletic:

“It wasn’t like Melo did something crazy to get kicked out of the league,” Lillard said. “A player of his caliber, without a reputation for doing wild stuff, and there’s not a real reason for him not to get an opportunity? It was weird. And I think that’s why so many people are in support of him, because they respect him, they are a fan of him, and they know he can still play.”

Anthony said he thinks the swelling of support from his peers is rooted in respect. He holds “Black Ops” runs over the summers, during which NBA players like the Blazers’ McCollum compete, and they saw what he could do.

“I was in the gym with those guys, most of the guys in the league, over the past year,” Anthony said. “They know it. They saw it. They experienced it. They were in the gym with me, they saw how locked in I was, so it was easy for them to support that. If I was just a guy out there not doing anything, they wouldn’t support that. It’s real, genuine love, and the people that know, they know.”

He liked how the coaching staff talked to him about starting Tuesday during their own private workout.

“Let’s be transparent,” Anthony said. “That was a miscommunication over the past couple seasons about what my role would be and what was expected from me. That was a big point in talking to those guys — ‘Let’s be transparent. There’s nothing I won’t be willing to do, but just let me know up front; whatever it is, just let me know. Put it all on the table and we will go from there.’”

Related Carmelo Anthony: ‘I’m Here Now. That’s What’s Important’

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Anthony, 35, says “what’s important” is that he’s back in the NBA and trying to avoid looking too far ahead.

The 10-time NBA All-Star appreciates being “wanted” by a desperate and strugglien Portland squad.

Per The AP:

“I came to a point where I was willing to accept it either way,” Anthony said after playing the first game of his 17th season with his sixth NBA team on Tuesday night. “I had to get myself mentally prepared for that and I did, to be honest with you.

“I stayed with it, but there was times where I didn’t want to. I wanted to just say, ‘Forget it, move on with my life, spend more time with my family.’ I started getting more comfortable with that,” Anthony continued. “I come into this game with a totally different mindset, totally different motivation.”

For the time being, the 35-year-old Anthony is steering clear of setting expectations.

“Who knows? I don’t think anyone knows what’s going to happen this year,” he said. “I’m here now. That’s what’s important. I could have still been home, right? So, Portland pulled the trigger. No matter what happens, I will always appreciate that.

“I have a new outlook,” he added. “For me, where I’m at, mentally, emotionally, the way I see things now, the way I approach the game, the way I approach this situation is more so me just having another different appreciation of just what this is and what the game of basketball brings.”

Related Carmelo Anthony: ‘I Always Kept My Eye on Portland’

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HE’S BACK.

Carmelo Anthony made his debut for the Blazers, his first appearance in an NBA game in 376 days. Melo shook some of the rust off and finished with 10 points and 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. The Pelicans spoiled his return by coming away with the win, but hoop fans everywhere should be nothing but thrilled that Melo is playing NBA basketball again.

Jrue Holiday led New Orleans with 22 points and 10 assists, and Brandon Ingram added 21 points, 7 boards, and 5 assists. CJ McCollum dropped 22 in the loss.

Warriors 114 (3-12), Grizzlies 95 (5-9)

Alec Burks dropped a game-high 29 points and Draymond Green stuffed the stat sheet with 8 points, 10 boards, and 11 assists to lead the Warriors to their 3rd win of the season. The Grizzlies were led by Ja Morant, who finished with 20 points in the loss.

Kings 120 (6-7), Suns 116 (7-6)

The Kings held off a 4th-quarter surge by the Suns to secure the win at home. Bogdan Bogdanovic went off for a career-high 31 points on 11-14 shooting and 7-9 from three. Corey Joseph dropped 14 dimes and Richaun Holmes added 20 points and 15 boards for the Kings. Devin Booker led the Suns with 30 points and 8 assists, and Mikal Bridges at 20 off the bench in the loss.

Lakers 112 (12-2), Thunder 107 (5-9)

The Lakers won their 5th in a row, led by monster nights from their two superstars Anthony Davis and LeBron James. AD finished with a game-high 34 points on 13-24 shooting. LBJ’s 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Thunder made him the first player ever to record a triple-double against every team in the NBA, an insane accomplishment for The King.

The Thunder were led by Dennis Schroder, who dropped a team-high 31 points off the bench. Danilo Gallinari added 25 points in the loss.

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“I always kept my eye on Portland,” says Anthony.

The 35-year-old future Hall of Famer has been out of the NBA for over a year, and will make his Rip City debut tonight, in a starting role.

Per USA Today and The AP:

“What happened before is the past, I can’t dwell on that. I learned from that,” Anthony said in the video. “Me and [Damian Lillard], we’ve been talking for the past couple years, off and on. I just look at that opportunity, that team, and say, ‘Look, this is what I can bring to the team. This is where I can help.’ It will only work if all parties see it the same way.”

The Blazers hope there is enough game left in the 35-year-old forward to help them overcome a 5-9 start.

“This happened at a point in my life where I do have a lot of clarity and understanding of different situations and just life,” Anthony added. “My approach is totally different.”

The agreement was not formalized until Tuesday when he signed a nonguaranteed contract that goes through January. If he stays, the contract becomes guaranteed for the rest of the season.

“Carmelo is an established star in this league that will provide a respected presence in our locker room and a skill set at a position of need on the floor,” Neil Olshey, Portland’s president of basketball operations, said in a statement.

Related Damian Lillard: ‘Hopefully We Can Be Part of a Great Bounceback for Melo’

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Lillard, who says he’s unconcerned about Portland’s early-season struggles, believes Melo can provide crucial help.

Anthony, 35, inked a a non-guaranteed deal after being out of the NBA for over a year.

Per The Athletic:

But signing the 35-year-old forward is a risk the Blazers have to take after losing six of the last seven games while being exposed at power forward. The signing of the 16-year veteran is a clear indication that Blazers management felt it couldn’t wait until Dec. 15 to pursue the expanded trade market, and that the deficit left by the injury to Zach Collins was too great to let go unattended.

That’s why team star Damian Lillard says signing the 35-year-old is “worth a shot.”

“We added a good player,” Lillard said in a text. “Another scoring threat, experience, rebounder.”

Related ‘Two Thousand Percent’: Carmelo Anthony Still Wants to Play in the NBA

The post Damian Lillard: ‘Hopefully We Can Be Part of a Great Bounceback for Melo’ appeared first on SLAM.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Anthony will be activated for Portland’s Tuesday night contest.

The Portland Trail Blazers intend to sign Carmelo Anthony to a non-guaranteed deal, Adrian Wojnaowski of ESPN reports. Anthony has been out of the league since he was traded by the Houston Rockets last season.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks adds that Anthony’s deal will become guaranteed if he remains on the roster through January 7. He’ll join the squad for their upcoming road trip, Wojnarowski adds.

Portland’s interest in Anthony has been well documented but the forward didn’t appear eager to sign on with the squad when presented with opportunities to do so over the years. Now, as the short-handed Blazers struggle to fill vacancies created by players like Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic, Anthony represents a potentially solid replacement.

Anthony will be in the mix for reps at the four with Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver.

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports that Blazers guard Damian Lillard was notified of the move last night and has always been supportive of bringing Anthony to town.

Given that the Blazers already had a roster spot open, they don’t need to make any moves to facilitate the signing. They are, however, a team already deep into the luxury tax that will now be in line to pay considerably more with an additional player on board, especially if Anthony ends up sticking around for the duration of the 2019-20 campaign.

While Anthony held his own in ten contests with the Rockets in 2018-19, two of them starts, the team opted to cancel the experiment and traded the former All-Star to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls promptly released the 35-year-old and he’s been on the outside of the league looking in since.

While Anthony didn’t latch on with a team throughout the offseason, it wasn’t because of a lack of interest. At various times through the summer Nets players were advocating for their squad to sign the veteran and the Knicks alluded to the notion that they’d have reached out to Anthony if their initial, more ambitious free agency plans had come to fruition.

To his credit, Anthony has remained committed to returning to the league and apparently kept himself in good enough condition through mid-November to convince a team to give him another shot. Last week he re-iterated his interest in playing again.

Having bounced around several franchises since he was dealt by the New York Knicks back in 2017, all eyes will be on Anthony as he looks to help jumpstart a Blazers squad that’s limped to a 4-8 start this season.

The post Trail Blazers Sign Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

The 35-year-old, 10-time All-Star, says he is “sitting back waiting to see what happens.”

Melo admits to being “surprised” he remains a free agent since being cut loose by the Houston Rockets last season.

Per Newsday:

“Two thousand percent,” he said on Thursday night. “Make that the headline.”

Anthony was in Manhattan to be honored at the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter’s Lou Gehrig Sports Award Benefit and stopped very briefly to speak to reporters.

Regarding his free agent status, the 10-time All-Star and former Knick said, “I don’t really want to get into all that. I’m surprised, of course. But it is what it is at this point, though.

“I’m sitting back waiting to see what happens, spending time with the family right now, and that’s all I can focus on, and other things I have going on.”

Related Rockets Source: Carmelo Anthony ‘Just Can’t Play NBA Defense Anymore’

The post ‘Two Thousand Percent’: Carmelo Anthony Still Wants to Play in the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony also struggled to fit into Houston’s offensive scheme, leading to a messy breakup.

Melo now finds himself on the outside looking in, his basketball future very much in doubt.

Per ESPN:

In the Rockets’ first five losses, opponents shoot a whopping 54% when Anthony is the closest defender. “We just couldn’t put him on the floor defensively,” one team source says.

In 2018-19, Anthony had an offensive rating of 102.3 and a net rating of minus-9.9 — both the worst of his career. “He just can’t play NBA defense anymore,” one Rockets source says, but the offensive woes ultimately calcified the Rockets’ thought that they had gambled and lost. Still, there remains a measure of guilt among some in and near the organization and within Anthony’s circle.

“I feel awful that it ended the way it did,” says another Rockets source. “He would have been better off either going to Miami or just not playing. But those 10 games … basically ruined him.”

Related Rockets Owner ‘Kinda Surprised’ By Carmelo Anthony’s Exit

The post Rockets Source: Carmelo Anthony ‘Just Can’t Play NBA Defense Anymore’ appeared first on SLAM.

Fertitta believes Anthony remains “one of the top 150 players” in the NBA.

Fertitta adds that he gave the Rockets’ front-office the benefit of the doubt when they elected to part ways with the 10-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer.

Per SNY:

FERTITTA: “You know, it’s really unusual because I never really got a chance to meet Melo but all I heard is what a gentleman he was and that he was going to play whatever part or role on the team that the coaches wanted him to play. And basketball ops decided to make a decision and, you know, it kinda surprised me too, as a fan of the Houston Rockets. But I know what I know and I know what I don’t know. And if my basketball ops thought that we should move on, then I sure wasn’t going to tell them not to, even though I thought that Melo’s one the greatest players to ever play the game.”

Do you believe Anthony can contribute to a team this season?

FERTITTA: “One hundred percent. Let me tell you: there’s a bunch of teams and I guarantee you if there’s 150 starters for the 30 teams that Carmelo Anthony is still one of the top 150 players in the National Basketball Association.”

Anthony said in an ESPN interview that he was surprised by the decision to waive him and he didn’t understand where it came from at the time. Do you have any regrets about how it all played out?

FERTITTA: “You know, I heard how my basketball ops people handled it. You hear different stories at different times and how different things are perceived. And it’s disappointing that that’s the way it was. But I just don’t know enough facts about exactly how it went down.”

Fertitta added that he ‘would not push back’ against his basketball operations staff on a decision like that if they felt it was the best course of action. “These guys are very analytical and they know that they do, this this is what they do every day. I sure wouldn’t contradict them on something like that.”

Related Larry Brown: Pistons Said They Were Drafting Carmelo Anthony in 2003

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Instead, Detroit infamously went with Darko Milicic, who turned out to be one of the biggest busts in League history.

Brown says Milicic’s pre-draft workouts raised several red flags.

Per Syracuse.com:

“At the time I got the job, they told me they were gonna draft Carmelo,” Brown said.

Despite a 50-32 record in 2002, Detroit had the No. 2 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft after acquiring it in a trade that sent forward Otis Thorpe to the Memphis Grizzlies in 1997.

“What I had understood, we were going to draft Carmelo and then all of a sudden they decided on Darko,” Brown said.

Brown says he wanted to bring in one of the other top prospects to play against Milicic, but it never happened.

“All I asked is why don’t you bring in Carmelo, or (Dwyane) Wade or (Chris) Bosh and let them workout against Darko?” Brown said. “Any smart agent is gonna say, ‘No, I’m not going to let my guy workout against somebody else.’

“We brought Darko in twice and he couldn’t go through a workout with me without getting totally exhausted,” Brown said.

Related Darko Milicic to Return to Professional Basketball

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Rose writes that he “wanted out” and was no longer having fun playing NBA basketball.

The 2011 MVP also blames former team president Phil Jackson for New York’s woes.

Per The NY Post:

“I actually loved my experience being in New York. Cool place. With the way things were the last couple of years in Chicago, I saw I needed a break.

“When I left the Knicks that day in January 2017, that’s what it was about. I just needed to go home.

“I went to the crib with my mom. Everybody came over to the house to talk. That’s the first time, one of the few times, where we sat down as a whole family and had a serious discussion like that.

“I had decided I was done playing. I saw the same thing that was happening with the Bulls was going on with New York. I could tell that the season wasn’t going to be the season everyone thought, that I thought. I didn’t know if I wanted to hoop anymore. Especially when it started to feel like a business. Of course, you know it’s a business. They always say that. But you know it’s also hoopin’. But it had started to feel like all business, no joy. That’s when I wanted out. I wasn’t having fun.”

Related Derrick Rose: ‘I Am a Hall of Famer’

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Deveny notes that Anthony’s representatives are working ‘aggressively’ to sway potential suitors of his current value. The 35-year-old’s reputation has taken several hits since 2017, his final season with the Knicks.

After departing New York — following a 31-51 season — Anthony went through a trying stint with the Thunder that resulted in OKC’s first-round playoff elimination. Last season, Anthony joined the Rockets, a union that lasted just 10 games before he was removed from the roster.

Anthony has not suited up for an NBA team since.

“He has been the scapegoat for a few teams that didn’t play up to their potential,” one source said to Deveny. “Obviously that is sticking with him.”

Related: Damian Lillard says Melo isn’t going to Portland
Related: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant push Nets to sign Melo

According to Deveny, Anthony’s camp is actively advocating that the future Hall of Famer isn’t a ‘team-killer’ as some portray and that he’s shouldered far more than his fair share of blame for some of his previous team’s misfortunes.

The year after Anthony’s departure, the Thunder won just one more regular season game and still exited the playoffs after one round. After his Rockets tenure ended, Houston still needed several months to right the ship.

Even with Anthony’s noted defensive shortcomings, he was still able to average 13.4 points in 10 games with Houston last year. As Deveny notes, it’s the reputation of a “team cancer” or inability to accept a lesser role that’s holding Anthony back.

As another source noted to the scribe, the attention Anthony generates is actually part of a two-part pitch to teams of his current value.

Not only can Anthony still score in bunches, but the coverage Anthony will generate and his ability to navigate large media markets makes him an asset.

“That’s the idea,” the source said. “He’s got a lot of friends in the league, he is liked by other players. He’s got friends in the media.“

Deveny mentions the Lakers, Clippers and Nets — all big market teams who Anthony can assist by deflecting attention from other prominent storylines. Just last week, it was reported that Anthony’s close friends Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were pushing Brooklyn to sign him.

When TMZ got a hold of Anthony and asked him about the Brooklyn reports, he was mum and mostly heralded his off-court relationship with the likes of Irving and Durant.

On the same note, he sounded at peace with whatever the future held.

“I appreciate all my fans. Everybody, it’s nothing but love,'” he said. “I’m good. Me and my family good. That’s all that matters. I’m Ten toes down. I feel better than I’ve ever felt.“

But based on everything heard and seen from Anthony, he’d be a lot happier with a mere chance to close out his Hall of Fame career in an NBA uniform.

The post Reps Fighting To Change Perception Of Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

The 10-time NBA All-Star “deserves to be in the League,” according to Lillard.

“I tried, two years ago I tried to get ‘Melo to come to Portland, and he went to Oklahoma City,” Lillard said.

“Then after that, I tried to get him to come to Portland again, and he went to Houston. So at this point … I’m like, ‘he ain’t coming here,’ you know what I’m saying? He deserves to be in the League, but he ain’t coming here.”

Melo, 35, has recently been linked to the Brooklyn Nets, and says he’s never felt better.

Per TMZ:

“That’s family,” Melo said. “So, that’s bigger than basketball. If something happens, something’s gonna happen.”

Anthony also has a message for everybody campaigning to get him back in the league … and says he’s ready to get to work.

“I appreciate all my fans. Everybody, it’s nothing but love. I’m good. Me and my family good. That’s all that matters. I’m 10 toes down. I feel better than I’ve ever felt.”

RELATED: Reps Fighting To Change Perception Of Carmelo Anthony

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This isn’t the first time that Anthony has been linked to the Nets franchise, we wrote about an informal scrimmage that he participated in earlier this month with players on the roster.

According to Isola, both Nets general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson have seen Anthony play or work out so far this summer. Marks, of course, will get the final say on whether the team adds the veteran to the official lineup.

Isola’s report comes the same day as Anthony is scheduled to scrimmage with Brooklyn’s cross-town rival, the New York Knicks.

As we laid out in our summary of Brooklyn’s roster heading into training camp, the Nets already have 15 players on guaranteed deals. If they wanted to sign Anthony they would need to cut one of those players, perhaps Wilson Chandler who will be suspended for PED use.

Alternatively, the Nets could wait to apply for a disabled player exception for Kevin Durant or until Game 6 of the 2019-20 season when they can officially shift Chandler to the team’s suspended list and add another body.

Technically, the Nets may add three more players over the course of training camp but adding Anthony into one of these spots wouldn’t alleviate the bottleneck that they’d face when the season officially begins.

All teams will need to cut their rosters down from 20 to 15 (and two two-way players) before the season officially begins.

The post Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving Pushing Nets To Sign Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

This isn’t the first time that Anthony has gotten shots up with an NBA franchise. We wrote about a report linking him to a Nets scrimmage earlier this month.

Earlier this offseason, a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested that the Knicks had considered signing Anthony but only if they added two marquee free agents. When the team pivoted to Plan B after missing out on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, their interest in Anthony waned.

Thabeet, the 32-year-old second-overall pick from the 2009 NBA Draft, has been out of the league since 2013-14 but has been on the comeback trail over the course of the past few seasons. Ian Begley of SportsNet New York sheds more light on Thabeet’s involvement with the franchise this week, adding that he’s practiced with the team for the past few days.

News that Anthony and Thabeet will be working with the Knicks is no formal indication that a more serious commitment is coming, New York already has 15 guaranteed contracts after all, but the reports give an idea of the fringe interest in the two players around the league.

The post Carmelo Anthony, Hasheem Thabeet Scrimmage With Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

Today, Ian Begley and Anthony Puccio of SportsNet New York report that the 35-year-old veteran has recently participated in informal workouts and scrimmages with Brooklyn Nets players in Los Angeles.

Anthony, who played parts of seven seasons with the New York Knicks, would be the latest in a long line of stars at various stages in their careers who’ve joined the Brooklyn Nets franchise this summer.

In order for Brooklyn to accommodate Anthony and keep him when rosters drop from 18 players down to 15 in October, they would need to waive another player to clear space. Given that a large contingent of their rotation is already made up of fresh faces, that may not be something the team is eager to do.

Earlier this month, Anthony spoke with ESPN, mentioning that he and his camp have been in touch with several franchises about a 2019-20 contract. The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers were mentioned as potential suitors at the time.

There’s no indication that the Nets organization is specifically interested in signing Anthony to a contract. As Puccio and Begley relay, Nets forward Caris Levert has already revealed that it was Nets addition Kyrie Irving who organized the team workouts in which Anthony has participated.

Anthony played 10 games for the Houston Rockets last season after spending the 2017-18 campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Knicks, for whom Anthony played prior to OKC, recently revealed that they considered the option of bringing Anthony back if they managed to sign other big name free agents this offseason. They didn’t and pivoted when players like Irving and Kevin Durant opted to sign with Brooklyn instead.

The post Free Agent Carmelo Anthony Participates In Informal Nets Workouts appeared first on SLAM.

Melo’s participation “would’ve been more of a distraction,” according to Colangelo.

Team USA has been rebuffed by a number of superstars this offseason, but Colangelo believes it has enough to win the FIBA World Cup in China.

Per The Athletic:

“First of all, I had a great relationship with Melo. He did a great job. He actually might have been as good or better in international play as he was in the NBA. Point is, he was very good in international play,” Colangelo said.

“I understood why the agent, he’s looking to get him the exposure, looking to get him another shot. But the only way (Anthony) can really be satisfied is for him to have another shot in the NBA, with another team and recently, he’s been aggressive media-wise, letting people know, ‘I feel like I can still play. I just need an opportunity, blah, blah, blah.’ With us, that would’ve been more of a distraction, as we discussed it. We need to focus on this team concept. We have a bunch of new guys and we’re going to go with this new group. And when you insert a different element and it detracts in any way, you lose it. That was it. That’s no reflection on Carmelo. I love the guy. But I don’t think it would’ve been healthy for our program at this time.”

Anthony participated in all but two international competitions since Colangelo took over USA Basketball in 2005 with a mantra to restore this country’s reputation and ranking.

Related Chauncey Billups: ‘Scoring 30 Meant Too Much’ to Carmelo Anthony

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At this point in the summer, the number of teams able and willing to offer more than minimum contracts is slim but that doesn’t mean squads aren’t interested in fortifying their rotations with affordable but experienced assets.

Below is a list of the top remaining players available to ink deals with new teams, I’ve ranked them in the order of the potential impact they could still have on an NBA roster.

1. Carmelo Anthony

There’s been no shortage of criticism for Carmelo Anthony and some of that criticism is justified. That said, the 35-year-old remains one of the most offensively gifted isolation players available in basketball.

If Anthony is truly ready to accept a bit role, he could be a major asset to a contending NBA squad. He may not be capable of providing plus value as a starter or even as a sixth man in today’s NBA but you know as well as I do that a dialed in Melo could get hot at just the right time and move the needle in a pivotal 2020 postseason matchup.

The question is what kind of team he’d do that for.

2. Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah didn’t put forth the same statistical outbursts as some of the other players below him on this list did but I’ve ranked these players based on their potential impact on an NBA team in 2019-20. At 34 years of age, Noah’s game is more or less a subdued version of what it always was; a poetic blend of intelligence and rabid energy.

There’s not one team that wouldn’t benefit from an experienced, smart, defensive-minded rotation big like Noah and the former All-Star seems to have finally adjusted to his new reality, post-Chicago.

Noah is reportedly being hounded by a club in New Zealand, so NBA teams may not be able to grab him if they wait until the season is underway.

3. Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried was a revelation for the Rockets when they signed him mid-season last January. The 29-year-old immediately began stuffing the stat sheet just as he’d done for so long with the Denver Nuggets earlier in his career and averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in games in which he saw at least 20 minutes of playing time.

Faried’s production dipped when Houston welcomed an injured Clint Capela back into their rotation in late February but he remains a productive big that no longer comes with an eight-digit price tag.

4. Shaun Livingston

Although he never averaged more than 20 minutes per game in his five seasons with the Warriors, Shaun Livingston became a vital piece of the team’s rotation throughout the peak of its dynasty. The guard is a stabilizing force with elite length that doesn’t squander possessions.

Livingston may not be able to anchor a second unit but he’s a low-risk depth piece that would make any team better.

5. Ryan Anderson

Despite the fact that we’ve all been conditioned to shun Ryan Anderson because of the albatross price tag that haunted him, when utilized consistency, he’s a competent stretch four capable of flirting with the .400 mark from beyond the arc.

Anderson on a near $20M contract is unpalatable, yes, but Anderson on a minimum deal is something that any team looking to add floor spacers should consider. There’s no guarantee that a 31-year-old Anderson could make waves on a competitive basketball team but I’d be surprised if a team doesn’t take a chance on him before the end of the season.

6. Iman Shumpert

Iman Shumpert is another example of a player who has become somewhat radioactive for financial reasons but his eight-digit annual cap hit is a thing of the past. Don’t bet your house on the 29-year-old matching the .366 he shot from beyond the arc in Sacramento last season but he seemed to be a positive influence on the Kings during his stay there.

Unlike most of the players on this list who seem hand picked to fill gaps on a contending team, Shumpert could be a valuable addition for a team still trying to establish itself. The energy he brought to the Kings locker room last season is no joke.

8. Marquese Chriss

There’s no denying that Marquese Chriss has had plenty of opportunities to carve out consistent playing time across stints with the rebuilding Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers. The fact that he hasn’t, should not go unnoticed.

That being said, I’m not ready to give up on the the 22-year-old former lottery pick just yet. Chriss averaged 16.5 points and 6.8 rebounds when given more than 20 minutes of playing time during his rookie season three years ago.

Yes, that’s a cherry picked stat, but it’s not Chriss’ fault that he landed in a terrible developmental environment when he was drafted. If Chriss was going to be a competent starter, he would have forced a team’s hand by now, but there’s no reason why he can’t still be a valuable, athletic, rotation big with upside.

8. Amir Johnson

Amir Johnson has never been a high maintenance NBA player and as a result has put together a long career as a valued rotation player for a number of competitive basketball teams. Sure he may not be the endless source of bounce and athleticism that he used to be but the prep-to-pros veteran is still just 32 years old.

Don’t expect Johnson to be a game-changer if he ends up back on an NBA squad but do realize that he’s an adaptable high character guy that could provide front court depth cheap.

9. Justin Anderson

Justin Anderson has bounced around a number of franchises since arriving on the NBA radar in 2015 and shown flashes of potential as a solid defensive wing with good size. If he ever lands with a team that can coax more out of his jumpshot, he could have a long career as bench piece on the perimeter.

That sort of late-blooming project may not appeal to rebuilding teams but where’s the downside for a playoff club with their rotation set and a roster spot available this late in the offseason?

10. Jamal Crawford

If you don’t day dream about Jamal Crawford landing on a playoff team, filling his role as token elder statesman on farewell tour admirably throughout the regular season before ultimately rising to the occasion as an injury replacement when his down-and-out championship hopeful squad needs him, immediately dropping 30-plus off the bench and punctuating a crucial postseason victory with a loping crossover that frees him up for a game winning jumper then who even are you?

The post The Best NBA Free Agents Still Available appeared first on SLAM.

Billups says Melo would be upset if he didn’t reach the 30-point mark even when his teams won, and that he hasn’t accepted the reality that he’s no longer a headliner in the NBA.

Anthony, 35, has yet to find a new home in the League after being cut loose by the Houston Rockets after a mere 10 games last season.

Per Complex (via SiriusXM NBA Radio):

“I feel bad for Melo and here’s why,” Billups said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s NBA Radio.

“Melo’s was like a good teammate, man. Melo practiced every day. He didn’t miss any games. Now, the only thing I will say—and I’ve even told Melo this—scoring 30 meant too much to Melo.

“It meant too much. Because he could have games where he had 20, 22 [points], we’d win and he’s mad. He might have 36, and he’s in there, you know—we lose the game, and he’s in there picking everybody up. Scoring 30 meant too much.

“But, I think now, you fast forward the tape, and the reason he’s not in the league—because he’s still worthy—he hasn’t mentally taken that step back to say, ‘Okay, I’ll come in and play against back-ups. I’ll try to help the team out. I know I might not be able to close, but I just want to help the team out,'” Billups explained. “He’s not there yet.”

Related Carmelo Anthony: ‘At This Point, I Just Want to Be Happy’

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Bronny led the North Coast Blue Chips to a title back in May at the LA Classic.

The post Melo Watches Bronny James Catch First Poster Dunk?!? 🤯 appeared first on SLAM.

Carmelo Anthony was in attendance to check out the Young King this past weekend.

The post Game Gets HEATED & Bronny James Hits GAME WINNER! 😱 appeared first on SLAM.

Wade, 37, says he is “happy with this season” despite the Miami Heat missing out on the playoffs.

The Banana Boat Crew of LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony made the trek to Brooklyn to give their good friend a proper send-off.

Per The AP:

“CP played last night, we had our last regular-season game last night and Melo’s right here in New York so we kind of made the plan, made the decision to come up here,” James said. “Listen, we couldn’t miss D-Wade’s last game. This is the last time he’s going to be on an NBA floor wearing that Miami Heat uniform, that No. 3, so we’re happy to be here to support.”

Afterward, Wade finished his season-long custom of exchanging jerseys with players by giving his to Anthony. Anthony was one of the people who persuaded Wade to return this season and enjoy a farewell tour, but then he didn’t last long enough with the Houston Rockets to play against Miami.

“I didn’t get an opportunity to play against Melo this year and exchange jerseys with him,” Wade said. “That was a missing piece out of this whole season, so everything worked out great for him being here, for me having an opportunity to give him my jersey.”

The Heat hoped the final game would matter, but the Nets and Orlando Magic had clinched spots over the weekend to leave only one spot left coming into the last week. Miami was eliminated from contention for it despite its victory Tuesday.

“For me, I’m happy with this season,” Wade said. “Unfortunately for our organization and our team we weren’t able to put ourselves in a position to win enough games to be in the playoffs, but for what I wanted for this season, I’m happy to say that I completed that.”

Related ‘That’s What Great Players Do’: Dwyane Wade Scores 30 in Last Home Game

The post Dwyane Wade Caps His Career With a Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

Dwyane Wade’s One Last Dance ended with a bang. The guard showed out in Brooklyn, with LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony there to watch, racking up a triple-double of 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He got the assist on a pass to none other than fellow Heat veteran and friend, Udonis Haslem.

After the game, Wade was embraced by his Banana Boat family.

Mavericks 94 (33-49), Spurs 105 (48-34)

Dirk Nowitzki ended his storied career with one last jumper at the top of the key, the perfect cap on a 21-year legacy in Dallas. He finished his final game in the league with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Pacers 135 (48-34), Hawks 134 (29-53)

Taurean Prince hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to put Atlanta up two — but they didn’t come away with the win. The Hawks fouled on a 3-point shot on the ensuing possession, and Indiana’s Edmond Sumner hit all three shots to give the Pacers win No. 48 on the season.

Magic 122 (42-40), Hornets 114 (39-43)

Charlotte entered the night with playoff hopes but they ultimately fell short. Terrence Ross led Orlando with 35 points in the road win. Kemba Walker put up 43 points as his team’s season ended early.

Pistons 115 (41-41), Knicks 89 (17-65)

Detroit’s night was a joyous one as they clinched their first playoff spot since 2016 with their win over New York. Luke Kennard scored a team-high 27 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the field. Andre Drummond added 20 points and 18 rebounds.

Bulls 109 (22-60), 76ers 125 (51-31)

The 76ers fielded a team without Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid but they still notched the win at home. Jonathon Simmons led the team with 20 points.

Warriors 117 (57-25), Grizzlies 132 (33-49)

Memphis enjoyed another triple-double from Delon Wright (13 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) as they finished the win season with a win. Jevon Carter contributed 32 points towards the victory as well.

Thunder 127 (49-33), Bucks 116 (60-22)

Russell Westbrook is in playoff form as his triple-double (15 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds) helped OKC over Milwaukee. Dennis Schroder put in a team-high 32 points for the Thunder.

Timberwolves 95 (36-46), Nuggets 99 (54-28)

Denver mounted a furious comeback late to steal the game at home. Nikola Jokic paced the team with 29 points and 14 rebounds.

Denver will be the No. 2 in the West and face San Antonio in the first round.

Jazz 137 (50-32), Clippers 143 (48-34)

Grayson Allen dropped a career-high 40 points in 40 minutes but Utah fell in OT. Ivica Zubac put in an impressive game for the Clippers, racking up 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Kings 131 (39-43), Blazers 136 (53-29)

Portland secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference by only playing six players. They were led by rookie Anfernee Simons, who registered 37 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

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The Lakers had been leaning toward signing Anthony for the rest of the season — until losses in four of the past five games left the organization and Anthony’s camp wondering if it made sense to bring the veteran into an unsettled environment with suddenly so little chance of making the playoffs, league sources said.

The Lakers are currently tenth in the Western Conference with a 30-33 record, 4.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 8 seed.

Anthony, 34, parted with the Houston Rockets after just ten games earlier this season.

RELATED: Carmelo Anthony: ‘At This Point, I Just Want to Be Happy’

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“Let’s use this moment as a call to action for all professional athletes to educate ourselves,” James told the audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and the millions of viewers watching at home. “Explore these issues. Speak up. Use our influence. And renounce all violence.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCjMvEdPi30

The ESPYs are usually a fun offseason event for major professional athletes to celebrate some of their greatest accomplishments in the past calendar year; but on this evening, the opening monologue would make way for four of the biggest NBA stars to share a powerful message.

That message: It’s time to fix a broken system that has resulted in too many black lives lost in fatal police shootings. A week prior to the ESPYs, Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot and killed by two police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A day later, Philando Castile, a 32-year-old black man, was pulled over while driving in Falcon Heights, Minnesota and shot seven times while he reached for his license and registration.

“The shoot-to-kill mentality has to stop,” Wade said. “Not seeing the value of black and brown bodies has to stop.”

Wade mentioned Sterling and Castile, along with several other black victims of fatal shootings: Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Laquan McDonald.

“The urgency to create change is at an all-time high,” Anthony added.

Paul talked about following in the footsteps of athletes like Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali when it came to being ambassadors for social change. The ESPYs moment was applauded and celebrated. Four of the most recognizable faces in sports, conveying an influential message to millions, and surely inspiring others, in their own positions, to stand up for what they believe in. The impact can’t be quantified, but it surely hit home for a lot of people watching that evening.

What is more important is that all four of them were not just delivering words, they have followed up with their actions. Last year, Paul reflected on the monologue.

“It was very meaningful what we said and what we did,” Paul said. “But what we concentrated on more after that was: Then what? It was one of those things that was out of sight, out of mind. The four of us continue to do different things to help the cause.”

In 2015, Anthony returned to Baltimore, the city where he grew up, to join protesters in a march after Freddie Gray, a black man, sustained spinal injuries while in police custody that resulted in his death. In 2016, not long after the ESPYs, Anthony also organized a meeting between community leaders, athletes and politicians in Los Angeles to have an open forum to discuss the rise of police shootings in the United States.

A month after the ESPYs, the issue of gun violence hit home for Wade. His 32-year-old cousin Nykea Aldridge was an innocent bystander when she was shot and killed in Wade’s hometown of Chicago. Wade has remained one of the most outspoken advocates for gun control and stopping the violence around the country. Last year, he and his wife Gabrielle Union donated $200,000 to help allow students from Chicago to join a “March For Our Lives” gun control rally in Washington, D.C.

They need our help! I'm asking my NBA fam to join us in raising money to send kids from underserved communities to March….@gabunion and I will start w/$200K for Chicago. every dollar counts! Who else is in?? Or donate here: https://t.co/pu10Gp76on #GetTheBallRollin

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) March 10, 2018

The reach of the four athletes has only expanded. Paul has advocated for stricter gun control on several occasions and the Chris Paul Family Foundation has continued to support communities by partnering with organizations to foster education and health and wellness initiatives, among other things. During the summer of 2018, James and his charity, The LeBron James Family Foundation, partnered with Akron Public Schools to open the I Promise School to help at-risk youth in Akron, OH.

This partnership, like everything else James, Wade, Paul and Anthony are doing off the court, will change the lives of kids and families for generations to come.

Like any call for social change, there has been pushback, and the criticism from the other side has been loud and rampant thanks to an increasingly divided landscape in the United States. Last year, FOX’s Laura Ingraham said she was uninterested in political advice from “someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball,” in response to a video of James and Kevin Durant criticizing President Donald Trump. Ingraham told James to “shut up and dribble.”

James responded shortly after: “We will definitely not shut up and dribble. I mean too much to society, too much to the youth, too much to so many kids who feel like they don’t have a way out…The best thing she did was help me create more awareness. ”

James, Wade, Anthony and Paul have been setting the example for years now. At the ESPYs in 2016, they made everyone aware of the power of using your platform to speak up. And the impact of that speech can still be felt today.

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 220 HERE!

Alex Wong is a contributor to SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @steven_lebron.

Photos via Getty Images.

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Welcome back, @carmeloanthony #️⃣7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/qAKMq78WKM

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 28, 2019

Anthony, 34, says he’s simply looking to find a happy, new NBA home.

The future Hall of Famer looks forward to “playing in this building some more.”

"This is home. New York is home."

Melo talks with @RebeccaHaarlow about being back at The Garden. #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/fBuV3FLEfw

— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) January 28, 2019

Per ESPN:

“I’ve had some great years in this building. I look forward to coming back and playing in this building some more,” Anthony said in an in-game interview with MSG Network during the Knicks’ loss to the Miami Heat.

The Houston Rockets have traded Carmelo Anthony and cash to the Bulls. Chicago eventually will trade or waive the 34-year-old veteran, league sources told ESPN.

“At this point, I just want to be happy,” Anthony said when discussing his next move. “I think I’ve put myself in a good, peaceful mind state right now, [being] able to focus in on what I need to focus in on. And whatever’s going to make me happy, then we’re going to make it happen.”

Wade, one of Anthony’s closest friends in the NBA, is certain that Anthony can still help an NBA team.

“It’s about the right fit. It’s about the right mentality,” Wade said Sunday. “The toughest part for GMs, presidents, owners and players is how to handle an aging superstar, right, in this game. It has to all work perfectly. Everyone has to make the right sacrifices, and it has to be the right group, and it has to be the right coach. It has to work perfectly when it’s an aging star in this game. And unfortunately, his last stop in Houston, it wasn’t the right stop. But Carmelo can play basketball.”

Related
‘He Deserves it’: James Harden Hopes Carmelo Anthony Gets Another Chance

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Harden’s explosion—which included fifteen rebounds, four assists and five steals—led the visiting Houston Rockets to a 114-110 win.

James Harden scores career-best 61, tying Kobe’s record for a visiting player at the current MSG, and Rockets edge Knicks 114-110 (from @AP) https://t.co/brFpoaw1dO

— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) January 24, 2019

The NBA’s reigning MVP and leading scorer notched his fifth 50-point game of the season.

Per the AP:

On another spectacular night for the NBA’s most sensational scorer, Harden not only notched his career high with 61 points, but tied Bryant’s record for a visiting player at the current Madison Square Garden.

“In the Garden, I’ll take it,” Harden said.

A day after saying he hadn’t yet experienced his Madison Square Garden moment, Harden finished 17 of 38 from the floor. He was only 5 of 20 on 3-pointers but was 22 of 25 from the line and grabbed 15 rebounds in front of a crowd that cheered some of his long jumpers but then booed after he drew foul after foul.

“They couldn’t figure out what they wanted to do,” Harden said. “But I appreciate them though, honestly. Tonight they kept me going and made the game exciting for me.”

Related
James Harden: ‘I Want My Name Up There’ With the Greatest Players Ever

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Harden says Melo is not only one of the best players ever, but that he can still help a team.

James Harden is certain that former Rockets teammate Carmelo Anthony can still help an NBA team. He hopes the ex-Knick finds a new home this season: “I just want to see him hoop, see him happy… he deserves it, honestly.” https://t.co/FnzB3j83wg

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 23, 2019

Anthony, 34, was traded by the Houston Rockets to Chicago, and is expected to be cut loose by the Bulls prior to the Feb. 7 trade deadline.

Per ESPN:

“I just want to see him hoop, see him happy, and I mean, he deserves it, honestly,” Harden said of Anthony on Tuesday. “Like, he’s put so much time and effort into this game that he should be able to hoop and still have fun playing the game of basketball.”

Harden was asked Tuesday whether he was disappointed with how things ended for Anthony in Houston.

“Yeah, man. Melo is one of the best to ever hoop. He loves the game of basketball,” Harden said. “Some guys just do it just because they’re gifted or they’re athletic or they can shoot the basketball. There’s not that many players that like, love to hoop. … It kind of sucks that it didn’t work out. It is what it is. I just hope he finds somewhere where they can embrace him and he can still hoop. So he [gets to] make that decision that he’s done [playing].”

Harden said that Anthony “for sure” can still help a team.

Related
‘It Wasn’t Fair to Him’: Rockets Move on from Carmelo Anthony

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The Houston Rockets have agreed to trade Carmelo Anthony and cash to the Chicago Bulls, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 21, 2019

The NBA office will not execute the trade today because it's a holiday, league sources tell ESPN. To clear the way for Kenneth Faried to sign and play tonight in Philadelphia, Rockets had to waive to James Nunnally. Trade call on 'Melo will likely be Tuesday. https://t.co/Oo2IA0nsJP

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 21, 2019

Anthony won't play a game for the Bulls, league source tells ESPN. He will be released and become a free agent if he clears waivers. https://t.co/Oo2IA0nsJP

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 21, 2019

Carmelo Anthony will not play a game for the Bulls, but it is possible that franchise holds off on waiving him until the trade deadline, league sources tell ESPN. Bulls could include him in a one-for-one trade, but can't aggregate his contract in another deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 21, 2019

Wojnarowski further reports that the Lakers still have interest in Carmelo, but are hesitant to waive a player to create an open roster spot:

Sources: The Lakers maintain interest in Anthony, but do not want to waive a guaranteed player to create a roster spot for him, league sources tell ESPN. If a roster spot eventually opens with LA, yes, the Lakers are a possible destination for Anthony.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 21, 2019

Anthony, 34, played in just 10 games for Houston, averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. He last took the court on November 8th.

RELATED
‘It’d Be Great’: LeBron Hopeful for Opportunity To Play with Carmelo

The post Report: Carmelo Traded to Bulls, Will Be Released and Become Free Agent appeared first on SLAM.

The Rockets will have until Monday to clear a roster spot for Faried. He's expected to move into the Rockets lineup with significant minutes immediately with absence of Clint Capela, league sources said. https://t.co/fE0GsWcjUW

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 19, 2019

Houston will have to create a roster spot for Faried, who will likely be inserted into the starting lineup to replace injured center Clint Capela. According to Wojnarowski, the team is “aggressively working to find a trade for the exiled Carmelo Anthony before Monday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline.”

The Rockets will continue to probe for Carmelo Anthony trades to clear roster spot for Kenneth Faried, but have no intention of waiving ‘Melo, league sources tell ESPN. More likely scenario is releasing James Nunnally, who is on 10-day contract.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 19, 2019

The Nets acquired Faried in the offseason, but he has appeared in just 12 games.

RELATED
‘It’d Be Great’: LeBron Hopeful for Opportunity To Play with Carmelo

The post Report: Rockets Trying to Trade Carmelo to Clear Roster Spot for Kenneth Faried appeared first on SLAM.

After the Lakers’ 110-115 loss to the Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday, LeBron told reporters: “I’ve always wanted to play alongside Melo. And if the opportunity presents itself, it’d be great.”

LeBron on the possibility of teaming up with Carmelo Anthony: "I’ve always wanted to play alongside Melo. And if the opportunity presents itself, it'd be great."

: @kylegoon pic.twitter.com/6KjlsO8Tob

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 19, 2018

LeBron, Carmelo and their wives had dinner together in New York City on Monday ahead of the Lakers game in Brooklyn.

LeBron’s comments come in stark contrast to his response when asked the same question in Orlando last month. “We don’t even have a roster spot open,” he said.

Someone asked LeBron if he thought Melo to the Lakers was possible. He wasn’t about that question. pic.twitter.com/JXfJZY0ZTS

— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) November 18, 2018

RELATED:
Report: LeBron James Wants Carmelo Anthony on the Lakers

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