LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony have been at the center of the basketball universe since their famous high school battles on national TV. Now, it's their son's turns.
When Bronny James and Kiyan Anthony square off, their famous fathers will take a backseat as basketball fans peer into the future and dare to dream about what might be between the current high school stars. While James is still tossing up triple-doubles and playing at an All-Star level, Anthony has yet to catch on with an NBA team for 2022-23.
As we reach the quarter mark of the season, that fact alone leaves fans wondering if Anthony has officially called it quits. As the sure-fire Hall of Famer is currently a free agent with no word of an imminent signing, is it fair to ask whether his illustrious 19-year career has come to an end?
This isn't the first time the basketball world has wondered whether we've seen the last of Melo in an NBA jersey.
FULL SCOUTING REPORTS: Bronny James | Kiyan Anthony
After being drafted No. 3 overall by the Nuggets in 2003 (sidebar - it's been almost 20 years and the fact that Darko Milicic was chosen No. 2 still baffles the mind!), Anthony spent his first eight-and-a-half seasons in the league in the Mile High City, then six-and-a-half seasons as the focal point of the Knicks.
Following his exit from New York, Anthony landed with the Thunder for one season, then the Rockets for another (well, 10 games to be exact). The Rockets traded Anthony to the Bulls, who promptly waived him and it seemed, for a moment in time, that we had seen the last of the 10-time All-Star in the NBA.
It appeared that Anthony, the 2012-13 NBA scoring champ, was exiled from the NBA until the Blazers came calling in the 2019-20 season. Portland took a chance and signed him to a deal.
Anthony played two seasons in Portland and then one more with the Lakers, but once again, Carmelo Anthony is a free agent, and questions surrounding his future have grown louder.
Does Anthony still have a place in the NBA and where could he potentially be playing next season? The Sporting News breaks it all down for you here.
MORE: Remembering LeBron James vs. Carmelo Anthony in high school
Is Carmelo Anthony retiring?
The short answer is no.
Back in March, Anthony dismissed any notion that he may retire at the season's end and even said that when the time comes, you won't be hearing the news from anyone other than himself.
“I’m going to tell you that right now: You ain’t going to hear no whispers,” Anthony said when asked about retirement. “You’re going to hear it straight from me.”
It's clear Anthony wants to continue playing, but unlike LeBron James, he doesn't want to play long enough to play with his son in the league who will be eligible to be drafted at the earliest in 2026 — when Carmelo will be 41 years old.
"No. No, I do not," said Melo when asked if he had similar plans to LeBron.
How good is Carmelo Anthony?
Anthony played surprisingly well during his one season with the Lakers. He opened the season with a flurry, scoring at least 20 points in five of the team's first 11 games.
In 69 games (three starts) he averaged 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 44.1 percent shooting. He even bumped up his 3-point percentage to 37.5 percent, up from 35.5 for his career.
He notched his season-high 29 points during that early-season stretch, against the Hornets in early November.
At age 38, Anthony's athleticism and explosiveness are not what they once were, but he has proven during his time with the Blazers and Lakers that he can reinvent himself as a 3-point specialist and be a valuable contributor to a team.
If he ends up back with the Lakers, with another preseason to get acclimated to his teammates, that production would improve as well.
Potential teams for Carmelo Anthony
- Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony spent last season with the Lakers and was a productive contributor over his 26 minutes per game, at times he was an instant offense guy off the bench, crucial for a team that was lacking in that department.
- Miami Heat: The Heat recently lost PJ Tucker to the 76ers, and while Anthony can't replace the defensive nous that Tucker brought to Miami, he will be able to shoulder more of an offensive load for the squad. This might be Melo's best option if he wants to contribute to a championship-level team and win a ring unless ...
- Phoenix Suns: The Suns are another team that is one of the league's best on the defensive side of things and Melo would get a chance to team up with his long-time friend Chris Paul. How sweet would it be if they finally won their first ring together?
- Brooklyn Nets: Melo to the Nets has been a 'thing' since his Denver days. Heading back to New York to play for the Nets could be an option, but unless Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both there, it's hard to see this one coming to fruition.
- New York Knicks: If Melo decides that he's content with his career without a ring, then coming home to the Knicks as a veteran mentor is the fairytale ending to his basketball journey. If the Knicks land Donovan Mitchell to play alongside Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, this could be an ideal situation for Melo to come in and be the veteran leader for the young core. And the Knicks fans would love it, too. The only problem? New York apparently isn't interested.