If winning championships is the ultimate measure of NBA greatness, then why is Carmelo Anthony a first-ballot Hall of Famer? The answer is simple: Few players in history have scored, carried franchises, and influenced a generation like Melo. His induction is a victory for every elite player whose greatness isn’t defined by rings. Just ask DeAndre Jordan, one of many who felt the weight of Anthony’s influence firsthand
For Jordan, this Hall of Fame nod is bigger than stats and accolades. It’s about the respect Melo commanded from his peers. Carmelo Anthony wasn’t just an elite scorer. He was a leader who uplifted his teammates, championed underappreciated players, and demanded respect from the basketball world. This was shown on full display when Melo vouched for the Knicks to sign DeAndre Jordan when he was the top-rated free agent. As Melo takes his rightful place among the legends, Jordan knows better than most.
In a recent interview with @RunItBackFDTV shared on X, DeAndre and Lou Williams got into a segment, talking about Carmelo Anthony and his Hall of Fame honor. To which DeAndre Jordan said, “”I had a Melo jersey in high school. It was a dream come true to play with a guy like that.” He then further commented, “For him to do it for so long, at a high level. One of the best scorers to ever play this game, and a great teammate and great man. So he deserves it. I’m very happy for him. Congrats, man.” he said, speaking on his longevity and scoring prowess, which was second to none. DeAndre played with Melo on the Lakers team.
Carmelo Anthony gets flowers from former teammate DeAndre Jordan after becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer
“I had a Melo jersey in high school. It was a dream come true to play with a guy like that.”@DeAndre | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/OnXCCtPWUc
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 3, 2025
While championships are often the benchmark for NBA greatness, Anthony’s legacy proves that rings aren’t everything.
Carmelo Anthony: One of the greatest without a championship
Even before Carmelo Anthony entered the league, he was a star, his former college basketball teammate Gerry McNamara said, “The first time I saw him, he was killing people (in pickup games). He left me shaking my head. He hasn’t disappointed anyone. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with.”
Carmelo Anthony, without surprise, remained one for the next 20 years. He hit the ground running in Denver, instantly working, revitalizing a Nuggets franchise that went from a 17-win also-ran before his arrival. To a playoff team, immediately after adding the precocious 19-year-old with the beaming smile. He averaged 20-plus points per game in each of his first 14 seasons, becoming a perennial All-Star selection and All-NBA candidate, leading the Nuggets to seven straight playoff berths and their first Western Conference finals appearance in nearly 25 years.
Anthony joins an elite group of players who have scored 20,000+ points, grabbed 7,000+ rebounds, and recorded 3,000+ assists – a club that includes Hall of Famers and future locks like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Dirk Nowitzki. A testament to his greatness once came from Andre Iguodala. He said, “If you can guard Carmelo Anthony, you can guard anybody in the league.”
His honors also include his three Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. men’s national basketball team, the second most in Olympic men’s hoops history, behind only Kevin Durant. From which he stepped away in 2016 as one of the most decorated players the program has ever seen. Anthony still holds the Team USA single-game scoring record, dropping 37 points on Nigeria in 14 minutes in London in 2012. One of the most jaw-dropping displays of pure shot-making.
DeAndre Jordan once wore Carmelo Anthony’s jersey as a high schooler. Years later, he got to wear one alongside him.
There’s something poetic about that journey. It speaks to the impact Melo had – not just as a scorer but as a cultural icon, a standard-bearer, a player who defined an era. The Hall of Fame isn’t just a place for champions. It’s for those who shaped the game, and Melo did that every time he stepped on the floor.
From Syracuse to Denver, New York to the world, he left a mark that won’t fade. And now, it’s carved in basketball history
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