Carmelo Anthony facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Carmelo Anthony

Anthony in 2025
Personal information
Born	(1984-05-29) May 29, 1984 (age 41) New York City, New York, U.S.
High school	Towson Catholic (Towson, Maryland) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
College	Syracuse (2002–2003)
NBA Draft	2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Pro career	2003–2022
Career history
2003–2011	Denver Nuggets
2011–2017	New York Knicks
2017–2018	Oklahoma City Thunder
2018–2019	Houston Rockets
2019–2021	Portland Trail Blazers
2021–2022	Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
10× NBA All-Star (2007, 2008, 2010–2017) 2× All-NBA Second Team (2010, 2013) 4× All-NBA Third Team (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012) NBA scoring champion (2013) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004) NBA 75th Anniversary Team NCAA champion (2003) NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2003) Consensus second-team All-American (2003) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2003) No. 15 retired by Syracuse Orange 2× USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2006, 2016) First-team Parade All-American (2002) McDonald's All-American (2002)
Career NBA statistics
Points	28,289 (22.5 ppg)
Rebounds	7,808 (6.2 rpg)
Assists	3,422 (2.7 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing Team Gold 2012 London Team Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team Bronze 2004 Athens Team World Championship Bronze 2006 Japan Americas Championship Gold 2007 Las Vegas

Carmelo Kyam Anthony (born May 29, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Carmelo was a ten-time NBA All-Star and was chosen for the All-NBA Team six times.

He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange. In 2003, as a freshman, he helped them win a national championship. He was also named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Many consider him one of the best scorers in NBA history. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, both as a player and as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

After one year at Syracuse, Anthony joined the 2003 NBA draft. The Denver Nuggets picked him third overall. He led the Nuggets to the playoffs every year from 2004 to 2010. In 2009, he helped the Nuggets reach the conference finals for the first time since 1985. In 2011, he was traded to the New York Knicks. On January 24, 2014, Anthony scored a career-high 62 points against the Charlotte Bobcats. This set a new scoring record for the Knicks and for Madison Square Garden. He later played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Anthony played in the Olympics for the U.S. national team four times, which is a record. He won a bronze medal in 2004 and gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016. He is the U.S. Olympic team's all-time leader in points, rebounds, and games played. He is currently tenth on the NBA career scoring list.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Carmelo Anthony was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His father, Carmelo Iriarte, was from Puerto Rico. His mother, Mary Anthony, is African-American. Carmelo's father passed away when he was two years old. When Carmelo was eight, his family moved to Baltimore.

Carmelo went to Towson Catholic High School for his first three years. In the summer of 1999, he grew taller and became a strong player. He was named The Baltimore Sun's metro player of the year in 2001. He also won the Baltimore Catholic League player of the year award. During his junior year, he averaged 23 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

After his junior year, many top college coaches wanted to recruit him. He decided to go to Syracuse University before his senior year. To qualify for Syracuse, he needed to improve his grades. For his senior year, he transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

In the summer of 2001, Anthony played in an AAU tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. He averaged 25.2 points per game and caught the attention of NBA scouts. He also played at the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. There, he tied LeBron James for the scoring lead, averaging 24 points per game. This is where Anthony and James became friends.

Oak Hill Academy had a 42-game winning streak when Anthony joined. They won several big tournaments. One important game was against St. Vincent – St. Mary High School from Akron, Ohio, where he played against LeBron James. James scored 36 points, but Anthony scored 34 points and had 11 rebounds, leading Oak Hill to a 72–66 win.

Anthony averaged 21.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in his senior year. He was named to the USA Today All-USA First Team. He also played in the Jordan Brand Classic and the 2002 McDonald's All-American Game. In the McDonald's All-American game, he scored 19 points and won the Sprite Slam Jam dunk contest.

College Career at Syracuse

Anthony played one season at Syracuse University during the 2002–03 season. He averaged 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He led the Syracuse Orangemen to their first-ever NCAA tournament title in 2003.

In the Final Four, he scored 33 points against the University of Texas. This set an NCAA tournament record for most points by a freshman. In the championship game against the University of Kansas, Anthony had 20 points and 10 rebounds. He earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award.

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said Anthony was "by far, the best player in college basketball." Anthony had planned to stay at Syracuse for two or three seasons. However, after winning the NCAA title, he decided to enter the 2003 NBA draft.

Professional Career

Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)

Starting in the NBA

Carmelo Anthony's NBA journey began on June 26, 2003. The Denver Nuggets picked him third overall in the 2003 NBA draft. He was chosen after LeBron James and Darko Miličić. His first NBA game was on October 29, 2003, against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 12 points, had seven rebounds, and three assists.

In just his sixth NBA game, Anthony scored 30 points. He became the second-youngest player in NBA history to score 30 points or more. On February 9, 2004, he reached 1,000 career points. He was the third-youngest player to do so.

Anthony receiving an alley-oop during the 2004 Rookie Challenge game for the Rookies team

On March 30, 2004, Anthony scored 41 points against the Seattle SuperSonics. This set a new Nuggets record for most points by a rookie. He won all six Rookie of the Month awards for the Western Conference. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Anthony averaged 21.0 points per game, the most among all rookies. He finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting, behind LeBron James.

Anthony helped turn the Nuggets around. The season before he joined, they had a 17–65 record. In his rookie season, they finished 43–39 and made the playoffs. They were the eighth seed and faced the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves won the series in five games.

Improving Each Season

In his second season, Anthony averaged 20.8 points per game. On December 4, 2004, he became the third-youngest player to reach 2,000 career points. He played in the Rookie Challenge again, scoring 31 points and winning the MVP award. The Nuggets improved to a 49–33 record. They faced the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs and lost in five games.

During the 2005–06 season, Anthony averaged 26.5 points per game, ranking eighth in the NBA. He scored a career-high 45 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. He also reached 5,000 career points, becoming the second-youngest player to do so. Anthony made five game-winning shots in the last five seconds of games that season. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team. The Nuggets won their division for the first time. They lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. After the season, Anthony signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension.

Anthony in 2007

In the 2006–07 season, Anthony averaged 28.9 points per game, second in the league. On February 5, 2007, he recorded his first career triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He was chosen as an All-Star replacement and scored 20 points in his debut. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team for the second year in a row.

For the 2007–08 season, Anthony was named an All-Star starter for the first time. On February 8, he scored a career-high 49 points against the Washington Wizards. He finished the season as the NBA's fourth-leading scorer with 25.7 points per game. The Nuggets won 50 games, their best record since 1988. They were the eighth seed in the playoffs and were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Playoff Success and Trade

The 2008–09 season saw the Nuggets trade for Chauncey Billups. On December 10, 2008, Anthony scored 33 points in one quarter, tying an NBA record. He finished the game with 45 points. The Nuggets won their division and finished second in the Western Conference with 54 wins. On April 29, 2009, Anthony won his first playoff series, as the Nuggets beat the New Orleans Hornets. He scored a playoff career-high 34 points in that game. The Nuggets then beat the Dallas Mavericks and reached the Conference finals for the first time since 1985. They were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony was named to the All-NBA Third Team again.

Anthony during his time with the Nuggets

In the 2009–10 season, Anthony started strong, scoring 71 points in the first two games. He scored a career-high 50 points against the New York Knicks. On January 21, 2010, he was named an All-Star starter for the second time. He finished the game with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the first time. The Nuggets won their division again. In Game 1 of the playoffs, Anthony scored a playoff career-high 42 points.

The 2010–11 season began with rumors that Anthony wanted to be traded. He did not sign a contract extension. On November 15, 2010, Anthony had 20 points and a career-high 22 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns.

New York Knicks (2011–2017)

Joining the Knicks

On February 22, 2011, Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. He signed a three-year, $65 million contract extension. He chose to wear number 7 for the Knicks. His first game with the Knicks was a win against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he scored 27 points. The Knicks made the playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in four games.

Anthony in March 2013

The 2011–12 season was Anthony's first full season as a Knick. The team faced many injuries. Anthony himself missed 11 games. During this time, Jeremy Lin became the starting point guard, leading to a period called "Linsanity." The Knicks changed coaches, and Anthony's play improved. Under coach Mike Woodson, the Knicks finished the season with an 18–6 record. They made the playoffs as the seventh seed and faced the Miami Heat. Despite injuries to teammates, Anthony led the Knicks to their first playoff win since 2001. He scored 41 points in that game. The Knicks were eliminated in five games. Anthony was voted to the All-NBA Third Team.

Scoring Champion and Records

In the 2012–13 season, Anthony had several strong performances. On January 9, 2013, he was suspended for one game after an incident with Kevin Garnett. On January 30, he set a Knicks record with 30 straight games scoring at least 20 points.

Anthony dunking in 2013

On April 2, 2013, Anthony tied his career high by scoring 50 points in a win over the Miami Heat. He became the first NBA player to score 50+ points without making any shots from inside the paint. He then scored 40 points and 41 points in his next two games. This made him the first Knicks player since Bernard King to score 40+ points in three games in a row. On April 7, the Knicks won their 12th straight game, with Anthony scoring 36 points. He became the NBA scoring champion for the 2013 season, averaging 28.7 points per game.

In the 2013 NBA Playoffs, Anthony helped the Knicks win their first playoff series since 2000 against the Boston Celtics. He averaged 29.2 points per game in the series. The Knicks then lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. Anthony was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Later Knicks Years

The 2013–14 season saw the Knicks struggle, but Anthony continued to play well. On January 24, 2014, he set his career high, the Knicks' franchise record, and the Madison Square Garden record for single-game scoring with 62 points. On January 30, he became the 50th NBA player to score 19,000 career points. He was the fifth-youngest NBA player to reach this milestone. Anthony averaged 27.4 points per game but missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. In July 2014, Anthony re-signed with the Knicks for five years.

Kristaps Porziņģis and Anthony

In the 2014–15 season, Anthony became the 40th player to reach 20,000 career points. He was the sixth-youngest in NBA history to do so. He was named an All-Star starter for the seventh time. However, he had left knee surgery in February 2015 and missed the rest of the season.

In the 2015–16 season, Anthony passed Larry Bird and Gary Payton on the all-time scoring list. He was voted an All-Star starter again. He also passed Clyde Drexler on the career scoring list. Anthony set a career-high with 4.2 assists per game that season.

Anthony with the Knicks in 2017

On December 9, 2016, Anthony reached 23,000 career points. He also passed Elgin Baylor on the NBA career scoring list. On January 11, 2017, he passed Robert Parish. On January 19, Anthony scored a Knicks-record 25 points in the second quarter of a game. On January 29, he scored a season-high 45 points. He passed Charles Barkley on the NBA career scoring list on February 12. He was named an All-Star for the tenth time. On March 12, Anthony became only the third player to score 10,000 points for two different teams. Two days later, he passed 24,000 career points.

In the 2017 off-season, Anthony was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had played seven seasons with the Knicks.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018)

On November 9, 2017, Anthony passed Allen Iverson on the NBA all-time scoring list. He then passed Ray Allen and Vince Carter later that month. On January 27, 2018, Anthony became the 21st NBA player to score 25,000 career points. On March 19, 2018, he passed Reggie Miller for 19th place on the NBA career scoring list.

On July 25, 2018, the Thunder traded Anthony to the Atlanta Hawks. He then accepted a contract buyout from the Hawks.

Houston Rockets (2018–2019)

On August 13, 2018, Anthony signed with the Houston Rockets. He played ten games for Houston. On November 15, the Rockets announced they were "parting ways" with Anthony. He was later waived by the Chicago Bulls on February 1, 2019.

Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2021)

2019–20 Season

On November 19, 2019, Anthony signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. He made his debut that day, scoring 10 points. On November 25, he scored a season-high 25 points and passed Alex English for 18th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He was named Western Conference Player of the Week, becoming the oldest player to win it since Tim Duncan in 2014–15.

On January 7, 2020, Anthony scored 28 points and hit the game-winning shot against the Toronto Raptors. This was his 26th game-winning shot in the last 30 seconds of a game. On January 17, he reached 26,000 career points, becoming the 18th player in NBA history to do so. On January 29, he passed Kevin Garnett for 17th place. On February 23, Anthony scored a season-high 32 points.

On August 10, 2020, Anthony passed John Havlicek and Paul Pierce on the NBA career scoring list. He finished the first round of the playoffs averaging 15.2 points per game.

2020–21 Season

In November 2020, Anthony re-signed with the Trail Blazers. On January 1, 2021, he passed Tim Duncan for 14th place on the NBA career scoring list. He then passed Dominique Wilkins and Oscar Robertson in February. On March 13, he passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 11th place. On March 19, he became the 11th NBA player to score over 27,000 points. On May 3, he passed Elvin Hayes for 10th place on the all-time scoring list. After the season, Anthony received the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award.

Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022)

Anthony with the Lakers in 2022

On August 6, 2021, Anthony signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He made his Lakers debut on October 19. On October 24, he scored 28 points and passed Moses Malone for 9th place on the NBA all-time career scoring list. On January 28, 2022, he became the 9th player in NBA history to reach 28,000 points. Anthony played his final game on April 5, 2022. The Lakers finished the season with a 33–49 record.

Retirement

On May 22, 2023, Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement from the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.

National Team Career

Anthony shoots a free throw as a member of Team USA during the 2012 Summer Olympics.

After his rookie season, Anthony joined the 2004 USA Olympic basketball team. The team won the bronze medal.

In 2006, Anthony was a co-captain for Team USA at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. The team won the bronze medal. On August 23, 2006, Anthony set a U.S. scoring record in a game with 35 points against Italy. He was named to the FIBA World Championship All-Tournament Team. He was also chosen as the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.

Anthony was part of Team USA during the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. The team won all 10 of their games.

Anthony also played in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The team won the gold medal, beating Spain in the final. Anthony scored 13 points in that game.

Anthony played in the 2016 Olympic Games, his fourth time in the Olympics. This set a record for a U.S. male basketball player. Team USA won the gold medal, beating Serbia. Anthony became the first player in U.S. men's basketball history to win three gold medals. He finished his Olympic career as the all-time leader in scoring, rebounding, and games played for U.S. men's basketball. He was named co-USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year for the third time.

Player Profile

Anthony attempts a mid-range jumpshot as Chris Singleton of the Washington Wizards defends in 2013.

Carmelo Anthony mainly played small forward, but he could also play power forward. His best skill was his scoring. He could take over games on offense. He shares the NBA record for the second most points scored in one quarter with 33. He also holds the New York Knicks single-game scoring record with 62 points.

Anthony was known for his many offensive moves. He was strong and quick, making him a threat near the basket. He could create space to shoot his jump shot or drive to the basket to earn free throws. Anthony was also known for being a "clutch" player, meaning he performed well in important moments. For example, in the 2005–06 season, he made five game-winning shots in the last five seconds.

Even though he was a great scorer, he was sometimes criticized for his defense. He was never named to the NBA All-Defensive Team.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Personal Life

Anthony with his wife La La

Carmelo Anthony has two brothers, Robert and Wilford, and a half-sister, Daphne. He also had a sister, Michelle, who passed away in 2010. His mother, Mary, is African American, and his father, Carmelo Iriarte, was Puerto Rican.

Anthony is good friends with fellow NBA stars LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade. They are sometimes called the "banana boat crew" because they have gone on vacations together. Once, LeBron James helped rescue Anthony from the water during a trip to the Bahamas.

Carmelo Anthony married Alani "La La" Vazquez on July 10, 2010. Their son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony, was born on March 7, 2007. Anthony lives in Portland, Oregon.

Charity Work

Anthony at the 2011 Time 100 gala

Carmelo Anthony has done a lot of charity work. In Denver, he was a spokesperson for the Family Resource Center. He helped organize a Christmas party called "A Very Melo Christmas" for children in need. In Baltimore, he hosts an annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. He also helped fund the rebuilding of a local community center for young people.

Anthony opened "The Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center" in Baltimore in 2006. He gave $1.5 million to the Living Classrooms Foundation. This group helps provide education and job training for young people in Baltimore.

After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Anthony donated $35,000 to help with relief efforts. He also promised $3 million to build a new basketball practice facility at his old college, Syracuse University. This facility is called the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. In 2006, Anthony was listed as number eight on "The Giving Back 30 List of Largest Charitable Donations by Celebrities."

Other Activities

Carmelo Anthony poses with Colin Kaepernick after a New York Liberty /Las Vegas Aces WNBA Semifinals game, October 1, 2024.

Anthony has appeared in TV shows and movies. He was a guest star in an episode of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. He also appeared in the music video for Common's song "Be." Anthony is the only player to be on the cover of all three EA Sports basketball video game series. In 2009, he was chosen as the professional athlete of the year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2003, Anthony signed his first shoe deal with Jordan Brand. His first signature shoe, the Jordan Carmelo 1.5, was released in 2004. As of 2018, thirteen shoes have been released in his Melo line.

In 2015, Anthony started a soccer team called Puerto Rico FC. He saw this as a way to help the community in Puerto Rico and as a good investment. Anthony is also a fan of the English football club Arsenal.

In April 2021, Anthony started his own production company called Creative 7. The name comes from his New York Knicks jersey number. In November 2023, Anthony and The Kid Mero started a weekly podcast called 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & the Kid Mero.

Anthony has written two books. He co-wrote "Carmelo Anthony: It's Just The Beginning" in 2004, which tells his life story. He also wrote a memoir called "Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised: A Memoir of Survival and Hope" in 2022. This book talks about his challenging childhood in Brooklyn and Baltimore.

Images for kids

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  Anthony in 2025

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  Anthony receiving an alley-oop during the 2004 Rookie Challenge game for the Rookies team

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  Anthony in 2007

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  Anthony during his tenure with the Nuggets

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  Anthony in March 2013

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  Anthony dunking in 2013

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  Kristaps Porziņģis and Anthony

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  Anthony with the Knicks in 2017

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  Anthony with the Lakers in 2022

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  Anthony shoots a free throw as a member of Team USA during the 2012 Summer Olympics.

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  Anthony attempts a mid-range jumpshot as Chris Singleton of the Washington Wizards defends in 2013.

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  Anthony with his wife La La

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  Anthony at the 2011 Time 100 gala

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  Carmelo Anthony poses with Colin Kaepernick after a New York Liberty/Las Vegas Aces WNBA Semifinals game, October 1, 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Carmelo Anthony para niños