Anthony, Carmelo (1984-…), was a star forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Anthony, also known as “Melo,” stands 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters) tall, and was known for his athleticism and his range as a shooter. He played on the United States teams that won the bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games and gold medals in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics.
Carmelo Kyam Anthony was born on May 29, 1984, in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 8, he moved with his family to Baltimore. Anthony starred in basketball at Towson Catholic High School in Baltimore and then at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, where he transferred for his senior year. After graduating from high school in 2002, Anthony enrolled at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. In his freshman year, Anthony led Syracuse to the 2002-2003 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship. He was named the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Anthony left college after one year to enter the 2003 NBA draft. The Denver Nuggets chose him with the third pick in the first round. Anthony finished second to LeBron James in voting for Rookie of the Year. In 2011, Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. In the 2012-2013 season, Anthony led the league in scoring with an average of 28.7 points a game. He was a much-recruited free agent after the 2013-2014 season, but he decided to re-sign with New York.
Anthony, still an effective scorer, played for a series of teams in the later stage of his career. The Knicks traded Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017. He signed to play with the Houston Rockets in 2018. In 2019, the Rockets traded Anthony to the Chicago Bulls, who soon released him from his contract. Anthony played with the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2021-2022 season. He announced his retirement as a player in 2023. Anthony has been active in philanthropy, especially in charities that help underprivileged children. He wrote Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised: A Memoir of Survival and Hope (2021) with coauthor D. Watkins.
