From Oak Hill Academy to Springfield, NBA great Carmelo Anthony has been elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Selected No. 3 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony is officially a first-ballot Hall of Famer, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Other notable finalists include Dwight Howard and the 2008 US Olympics Men's Basketball Team. What an illustrious career Carmelo Anthony has had!

In 19 career NBA seasons, Anthony averaged 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Throughout his NBA tenure, the former Syracuse star played for the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Named two-time All-NBA Second Team and four-time All-NBA Third Team, Anthony is additionally a three-time gold medalist with the USA Men's Olympic Basketball team. No. 7 last played for the Los Angeles Lakers and retired after the 2021-2022 season.

Carmelo Anthony Headlined A Game Changing 2003 NBA Draft Class

16 years ago today, The 2003 NBA Draft!
Is this the best draft class ever?

1: LeBron
2: Darko
3: Carmelo
4: Bosh
5: Wade
6: Kaman
18: David West
21: Boris Diaw
27: Kendrick Perkins
28: Barbosa
29: Josh Howard
32: Luke Walton
42: Zaza
47: Mo Williams
51: Kyle Korver pic.twitter.com/1xJg2uYZEy

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 26, 2019

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary team, Anthony was included in an NBA Draft class that shaped the landscape of the NBA forever. Two picks behind LeBron James, who was drafted No.1 overall, Anthony joined a group of legendary athletes for years to come. With the Michael Jordan Era gone forever, Anthony was included in a draft class that would proceed to win a total of 27 NBA Championships.

Although Anthony failed to achieve an NBA Championship, he headlined an iconic draft class. This class included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, David West, and Kyle Korver, to name a few.  Anthony, along with the others, undoubtedly reshaped the NBA. Does the word "super team" ring a bell? In fact, that  originated from that 2003 class.

The news doesn't come as a surprise, considering Anthony was a 10-time NBA All-Star. An NCAA Champion with the Syracuse Orange, Anthony is regarded as one of the top scorers in the history of the NBA. Arguably his best season, Anthony was named the 2013 NBA scoring champion. Leading the league in scoring, the Baltimore legend averaged 28.7 points per game.

Having spent the first eight years of his NBA career with the Nuggets, Anthony was one of the most legendary players to watch. Having equipped one of the smoothest jumpers, he fell short of an NBA title throughout his career.  Leading the Nuggets to eight straight playoff appearances, Denver was bounced from the first round of the playoffs in each of Anthony's first five seasons.

Why Anthony Is Considered One Of The Knicks Greatest Players

Carmelo Anthony’s TOP 10 GAME WINNERS...just with the Denver Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/6MD22zZOWI

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 22, 2023

Most notably, Anthony was was traded to the Big Apple in a three-team blockbuster deal involving the Thunder and Nuggets. While the New York Knicks acquired Anthony, the Nuggets later used the future first-round pick to draft Jamal Murray. As a result, Murray has since become one of the Nuggets star franchise players.

In addition to earning the scoring record with the Knicks, Anthony finished third in MVP voting in 2013. Considered the Knicks biggest star since the Patrick Ewing era, Anthony turned the franchise around from a 29-53 record. Leading New York to two first round playoff appearances, Anthony made New York relevant again. No. 7 was widely known for taking the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since Y2k.

Patrick Ewing and Walt Frazier hold the Knicks top records for points scored, with Anthony trailing behind at no. 7. Above all, Winning championships doesn't always equate to a Hall of Fame caliber player.  In fact, Anthony ranks No. 10 on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 28,289 career points.

Carmelo Anthony's legacy will live on the court through his son, Kiyan Anthony, who committed to Syracuse University in 2025. A four-star recruit, can Kiyan continue his father's influence on the hardwood?

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator, and Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on Women's Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane currently resides in the Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut.