carmelo-anthony-getty.png
Getty Images

Former No. 3 overall pick and 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony announced he is retiring from the game of basketball after 19 seasons on Monday. Anthony, 38, did not play in the NBA this season, and informed the world of his decision in a video released on social media. 

"I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on the court and a dream of something more," Anthony said. "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. But this bittersweet goodbye to the NBA, I am excited about what the future holds for me. When people ask what I believe my legacy is, it's not my feats on the court that come to mind, nor the awards or praise, because my story has always been more than basketball."

Anthony then addressed his son, 15-year-old Kiyan, a rising basketball prospect who already has an offer from Syracuse and just may follow in his father's footsteps. 

"My legacy, my son, it's in you. I will forever continue through you, because the time has come for you to carry this torch," he said. "So [Kiyan], chase your dreams, let nothing hold you back, let nothing intervene. My legacy, now and forever, lives on through you. I will always be proud of all that you do."

The Knicks congratulated Anthony on his historic career on Twitter. 

Anthony entered the league in 2003 alongside the likes of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in one of the greatest draft classes of all time, and quickly emerged as a premier scorer. He made 10 All-Star Games, six All-NBA teams, won the scoring title in 2013 and was named to the league's 75th anniversary team in 2022. Upon retirement he is ninth on the league's all-time scoring list with 28,289 points

The majority of his career was spent with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, before short cameos with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers. He last played with the Lakers during the 2021-22 season. 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement congratulating Anthony on his retirement and saying he looks forward to "seeing him in the Hall of Fame."

While Anthony's career was defined, in part, by the fact that he never won an NBA title, he was a serial winner at other levels. Notably, he led Syracuse to their only NCAA national championship in school history as a freshman, and was incredible on the internatonal level where he won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA.