Longtime NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony has received the prestigious honor of being selected as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2025. According to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania, Anthony was informed on Wednesday that he was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, a testament to his remarkable career and impact on the game.
Anthony was named a Hall of Fame finalist in February, alongside other former NBA greats including Dwight Howard, Buck Williams, and Marques Johnson. His journey to this momentous occasion began during his collegiate career at Syracuse, where he won a national championship and was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player in his only season. Following this success, the Denver Nuggets selected Anthony as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
Over an impressive 19-season tenure in the NBA, Anthony showcased his skills with several teams including the Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. His accolades include being a 10-time All-Star and a six-time All-NBA selection. Additionally, he earned the 2012-13 NBA scoring title and was honored as part of the league's 75th Anniversary Team.
Throughout his career, Anthony averaged an impressive 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 three-pointers made, and 1.0 steal over the span of 1,260 regular-season games. With a total of 28,289 career points, he ranks 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list and 12th when including ABA scoring. Despite not clinching an NBA championship or competing in the NBA Finals, Anthony's legacy remains significant.
While Anthony may not have reached the pinnacle of success in the NBA, he thrived on the international stage. He began his Olympic journey with a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and went on to win three consecutive gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016. At the time of his last Olympic appearance, he held the record as Team USA's all-time leader in Olympic games played, points, and rebounds.
Now at 40 years old, Anthony has not played in an NBA game since 2022, yet his influence on the league remains profound. He was part of one of the most iconic draft classes in NBA history, which included fellow Hall of Famers Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, as well as future Hall of Famer LeBron James, all of whom were among the top five selections in the 2003 draft.
As the basketball community prepares to celebrate his contributions to the sport, Anthony will officially be inducted into the Hall of Fame in September in Springfield, Massachusetts. He will take his rightful place alongside Wade, Bosh, and numerous other legends of the game, solidifying his legacy as one of basketball's greats.
