Injuries are part of the deal when you play in the NBA. But what fans don’t always see is the mental and physical price players quietly pay behind the scenes. The bigger the name, the heavier the toll, and when you start listing NBA stars who’ve battled through it, Carmelo Anthony’s name deserves a spot right at the top. Melo didn’t just deal with injuries; at one point, it felt like they became a part of his career. Yet somehow, the man still built a resume that screams Hall of Fame. And recently, on an episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Carmelo opened up about that exact struggle. He got real about a tough chapter in his career. One that flew way under the radar for most fans at the time.
Aside from a championship ring, Carmelo Anthony has just about everything a player could take a bullet for. Three Olympic gold medals, 10 NBA All-Star selections, and a future spot in the Hall of Fame. But none of those came without a price. For Melo, that price was injuries. And if those setbacks hadn’t slowed him down, only God knows where he might’ve landed on the NBA’s all-time great list. Recently, Carmelo opened up about one of those tough moments, a setback that could’ve broken most players. But Melo being Melo, he found a way to rise without letting the world see him sweat.
On a recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Carmelo dropped a story most fans never knew. “Well, I remember we had 2015 All-Star weekend, was New York the whole pro. I had surgery after that on my knee. Nobody knew after which season 15 that All-Star game. Here in New York, I played, went to go get surgery, nobody knew, came back the next year.” Carmelo revealed. That right there, that attitude, that quiet toughness, is what distinguishes legends from the rest. But as you’d guess, it left its mark on him and his game. The surgery didn’t just test his body, it forced him to evolve as a player. Carmelo later admitted that the injury changed the way he approached one of his signature moves.
“I had that surgery and that made me start playing off two (feet).” Carmelo previously shared. Before that, his jump shot came off one foot. Afterward? He adjusted, launching off both. And also this time, Melo kept it real too. He admitted, “Came back the next year, I knew I wasn’t, there’s no way like, I was 100%,” But truth be told, even at less than his best, the man still earned another All-Star nod.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: Big East Conference Tournament First Round – Villanova vs Georgetown Mar 8, 2023 New York, NY, USA New York Knicks former player Carmelo Anthony sits courtside during the second half between the Villanova Wildcats and the Georgetown Hoyas at Madison Square Garden. New York Madison Square Garden NY USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xBradxPennerx 20230308_bjp_ae5_087
That’s the kind of heart and grit you just can’t teach. And now you know why Carmelo Anthony’s name hits differently. And because Melo lived through those brutal injuries himself, he’s always been the first to show love when others go down. Remember what happened with Kristaps Porzingis?
Carmelo Anthony weighs in as Kristaps Porzingis faces a gut-punch moment in life
Back in 2015, Kristaps Porzingis landed with the Knicks, teaming up with Carmelo Anthony for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. Naturally, Porzingis became like a little brother to Melo. So when Kristaps tore his ACL in 2018, it hit Carmelo harder than most.
Melo didn’t hide his feelings either. “Yeah, it’s sad, man. It’s sad,” he said at the time. “I’ll reach out to him tonight. It’s just sad to know that injury, the type of year he’s been having, the growth he’s had over the past couple years and even this season.” Carmelo added.
See, for a guy like Carmelo, someone who’s battled injuries his entire career, and kept his spot at the top, he knew exactly what Porzingis was up against. The surgeries, the rehab grind, the mental battle. It’s something you only truly get if you’ve lived it.
Porzingis eventually made his return about 13 months after surgery, getting back on the court for his first 5-on-5 with the Mavericks in March 2019. These days, he’s suiting up for the Boston Celtics, but the bond between him and Melo never faded. You know, that’s the amazing thing about this league. It shows that talent comes and goes, but those brotherhood moments? They stick around forever.
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