When Carmelo Anthony stood on that stage during the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 announcement at the Final Four in San Antonio, it wasn’t just a thank-you speech—it was a full-circle moment. After years of dodging headlines and deflecting criticism, Melo finally gave the media its flowers. And not in a sarcastic, eye-rolling way. In a genuine, look-what-we-survived-together tone. The man who once had to read between the lines of every question finally stood tall and thanked the ones asking them.
“I would like to say thank you guys, because you guys was the one as the media and asking those questions,” Melo said. “You guys kept me sharp too to understand how to stay ahead of you guys and what you guys was going to ask me. So thank you guys. You guys played a major part in my career as well. So thank you.”
Still, things weren’t always peachy between Melo and the media. And during an episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, that tension bubbled back up. NFL legend Michael Strahan put it plainly: “They don’t apologize. They just come up and say congratulations, you had a great career. They never gonna say, you know, I’m sorry, I was a real a——,” he said. Having spent years as a prominent NFL player under the constant watch of the media, Strahan’s perspective comes from firsthand experience with the potential for harsh and sometimes unfair coverage. “You know, I’m glad that you, you know, I always knew you could do this. They don’t do that.”
Yet just when you think Melo would nod in agreement, he flipped the narrative. “I’ve had a few,” he said, leaving his co-host shook. “I’ve had a few that come up, that came up to me and said, man, I, I, like, I felt your sentiment at that time. Uh-huh. Of what you was going through, but I was just in a tough position.”
Paris 2024 Olympics – Olympic Basketball Tournament Draw – Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, Mies, Switzerland – March 19, 2024 FIBA ambassador Carmelo Anthony talks to the media after the draw REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
And with that, Strahan couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Oh, man. Man, you had nice media people.” Truth is, not all of them were. Despite the occasional friction and Melo’s feeling of facing a “biased” media landscape throughout his career, his Hall of Fame induction seemed to foster a moment of reconciliation, with even Melo acknowledging the press’s role in shaping his narrative.
Carmelo Anthony’s battle with “biased” media
So while LeBron James once called it “special” to share the court with Carmelo Anthony, Melo’s story goes way deeper than throwback brotherhood and highlight reels. Their bond—rooted in high school face-offs and watching their sons hoop today—ran side by side with a tougher narrative Melo had to carry. Because even with all the love from fellow players, the media? That was a different game.
In fact, when asked if biased coverage shaped rivalries and public narratives, Melo didn’t sugarcoat it. “I think it’s biased a lot of times,” he said on 7PM in Brooklyn. From rankings that didn’t reflect how players really felt to the constant need to outshine the noise, Melo said he had to “work 10 times” harder just to get noticed.
Yet instead of chasing approval, he leaned into what grounded him. “I went straight to the love that I know and I was comfortable with, which was the streets, which was the hood, which was my people,” he said. While LeBron hailed as “the chosen one,” Melo kept it real—just like he always had, from Baltimore to Syracuse.
Even the 2003 Rookie of the Year vote had that same tone. Melo outscored and out-rebounded Bron, yet still lost 78 to 40. Many observers at the time felt Melo had a strong case for the award, leading to discussions about whether LeBron’s immense hype and national profile influenced the voting. But 10x All-Star nods later? Melo didn’t just prove people wrong—he made sure they remembered.
While acknowledging the challenges and perceived biases he faced, Melo’s willingness to thank the press signaled a newfound perspective, perhaps born from the perspective of a celebrated career now being honored. This unexpected moment of acknowledgment suggests that even the most complex relationships can find a form of resolution in the face of a lasting legacy.
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