NBA great, Carmelo Anthony confirmed his retirement from basketball on Monday, formally bringing the curtain down on his two-decade professional career.
Anthony, 38, whose final NBA game was for the Los Angeles Lakers in April 2022 revealed his retirement decision in a video montage of his career that was posted to his Instagram page.
He wrote;
“I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on the court and a dream with something more,” Anthony said in the video.
“But basketball was my outlet. My purpose was strong. My communities, the cities I represented with pride and the fans that supported me along the way.
“I am forever grateful for those people and places because they made me, Carmelo Anthony.
“But now the time has come for me to say goodbye: to the court where I made my name, to the game that gave me purpose and pride.”
Anthony, chosen with the third overall pick in the 2003 draft, departs the sport as one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history.
Over the course of 20 seasons in the NBA, he amassed 28,289 points at an average of 22.5 points per game, with 7,808 rebounds and 3,422 assists.
His career began with the Denver Nuggets, then in 2010 he transferred to the New York Knicks, where he played for seven years before having spells with the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
As a part of the US Olympic team, he won three consecutive gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016 in addition to a bronze at the Athens Games in 2004.
