The Hall of Fame awaits Carmelo Anthony after the NBA’s ninth all-time leading scorer — and the Madison Square Garden record-holder for points in one game — officially announced his retirement in a “bittersweet” farewell he posted Monday to his social media accounts.
“Now the time has come for me to say goodbye to the game that gave me purpose and pride,” Anthony, a 10-time All-Star who played seven of his 19 NBA seasons with the Knicks, said in a videotaped message. “I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on the court and a dream with something more. But basketball was my outlet.”
The Brooklyn-born Anthony didn’t play this season and retires without winning an elusive title or ever reaching the NBA Finals, advancing to the Western Conference Finals once with the Nuggets in 2009 before he was shipped to the Knicks in a blockbuster trade at the 2011 trade deadline.
Still, he led Syracuse to an NCAA title as a freshman in his lone college season in 2003 and he earned three Olympic gold medals for USA Basketball in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
His 31 appearances over four Olympics are the most for any men’s player in U.S. history, and he also holds American records for points (37) and 3-pointers (10) in one game.
His best season in New York came in 2012-13, when he fronted the Knicks to a 54-win regular season and the second round of the playoffs, marking the most recent time the franchise had advanced in the postseason until this spring.
Anthony led the league in scoring that season at 28.7 points per game, finishing third in league MVP voting.
His 62 points against the Charlotte Bobcats in January 2014 are the most by any player in one game in Garden history, and he averaged 24.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists during his time with the Knicks.
It remains to be seen whether that body of work will be enough for Anthony to one day have his No. 7 jersey retired to the MSG rafters.
“In the seven years he played for the Knicks, Melo gave The Garden crowd some unforgettable memories and garnered multiple All-Star and All-NBA selections,” the Knicks said in a statement. “He also led the way off the court with participation in countless community programs.”
Anthony, who was traded to the Thunder in 2017, also played for the Rockets and the Trail Blazers before landing with the Lakers in 2021-22.
He finished his career with 28,289 points, trailing only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal in NBA history.
Kevin Durant is the closest active player on the list, nearly 1,400 points behind Anthony, who was selected as one of the league’s 75 greatest players last year.
“Carmelo Anthony is one of the NBA’s all-time great players and ambassadors,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “We congratulate him on a remarkable 19-year career and look forward to seeing him in the Hall of Fame.”
Anthony, who will turn 39 on May 29, was selected third overall by the Nuggets in 2003, as part of the loaded draft class that also featured James (first), Chris Bosh (fourth) and Dwyane Wade (fifth).
Anthony received a rousing ovation at MSG when he attended Game 2 of the second round of the playoffs against the Heat this month.
He was seated next to his 16-year-old son Kiyan, a four-star high school guard for Long Island Lutheran in the Class of 2025.
Kiyan Anthony is Carmelo’s son with his ex-wife, actress and former MTV VJ La La Anthony, who filed for divorce last year after several years of separation.
“People ask what I believe my legacy is,” Carmelo Anthony said. “It’s not my feats on the court that come to mind, all the awards or praise. Because my story has always been more than basketball. My legacy, my son … I will forever continue through you. The time has come for you to carry this torch.”
