Carmelo Anthony: Five Ways ‘Melo Made Olympic History

New York Knicks star and USA Basketball legend Carmelo Anthony made multiple forms of history at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Carmelo Anthony may be the greatest Olympic basketball player of all-time. That conversation can, should, and will be held at some point in the near future, but for now, the rational decision is to be objective.

Objectively speaking, Anthony is the single most decorated men’s player in the history of Olympic and USA Basketball.

Anthony has earned his place as an all-time great on the international basketball scene. He began his Olympic career in 2004 and returned with the historically dominant Team USA squads of 2008 and 2012.

It was in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that Anthony firmly solidified his place on the all-time Olympic spectrum.

Anthony helped Team USA defeat Serbia by a lopsided score of 96-66. He tallied seven points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes for the Americans, also contributing two assists, a steal, and a 3-point field goal.

In the process, Anthony completed what will go down as one of the greatest Olympic basketball careers of all-time.

Next: The Cornerstone

1. Four Olympic Appearances

As previously alluded to, Carmelo Anthony has made the trip to the Olympics on four different occasions. That tour began in 2004 and continued with the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Games.

In doing so, Anthony became the first and only American men’s basketball player to appear in four different Olympics.

Some may downplay this achievement, but it’s a truly remarkable feat. He made his first Olympic run following his rookie NBA season, which is a testament to how great Anthony managed to be from Day 1.

He did a great enough job of taking care of his body to make three more runs, which is a testament to his work ethic.

When one thinks of USA Basketball, it’s difficult to think of anyone but Anthony as the face of the program. He’s been everything from the hungry young bull to the veteran and vocal leader of a team with 10 players who’d never been there before.

Anthony made history as soon as he stepped on the court for his first Olympic game of 2016.

Next: Saving Team USA

2. 30+ Points In Two Olympic Games

If there’s one thing that Carmelo Anthony does well, it’s put points on the board in a hurry. When he gets hot, there aren’t many players in NBA or Olympic history who can take over a game in the way he’s capable.

In 2016, Anthony re-established his greatness as a scorer by becoming the first American player to record at least 30 points in two different Olympic games.

Anthony’s first 30-point eruption is the single most iconic scoring performance in Team USA history. He set a team record by going off for 37 points against Nigeria at the 2012 Olympics in London, England.

To this day, that performance is considered to be the best that any USA Basketball player has put forth at the Olympics.

In 2016, Anthony saved Team USA from disaster by scoring 31 points in a 98-88 escape of Australia. It appeared as though the lethargic Americans would lose, but Anthony wouldn’t let that happen.

Though the former may have been the more explosive of the two outings, it was the latter that embodied how much Anthony means to USA Basketball.

Next: Raising The Bar

3. All-Time Scoring Leader

As previously alluded to, Carmelo Anthony is one heck of a scorer. He proved as much by recording a pair of 30-point games in a Team USA jersey, but that only addresses a minor detail of this extraordinary matter.

In 2016, Anthony passed the likes of LeBron James, David Robinson, and Michael Jordan to become USA Basketball’s all-time leading Olympic scorer.

Anthony finishes his USA Basketball career with 336 career points scored at the Olympics. That distances him from James by a relatively large gap of 63 points—a sign of just how prolific a scorer Anthony has become.

Regardless of what else one wants to say, for at least four more years, Anthony is USA Basketball’s all-time scoring king.

Anthony has the perfect skill set for the international game. He’s a downright lethal catch-and-shoot marksman from beyond the arc who can go to the post, crash the offensive glass, and feast on a shorter 3-point line.

Here’s hoping the Knicks fuse FIBA Anthony with NBA Anthony during the 2016-17 NBA season.

Next: The One And Only

4. Three Gold Medals

Carmelo Anthony entered the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with multiple opportunities to make history. He checked every one of the boxes along the way and then some.

It was on Sunday, August 21 that Anthony’s quest for history reached its pinnacle.

In helping Team USA get by Serbia, Anthony became the first male basketball player in Olympic history to win three gold medals. He subsequently bid USA Basketball adieu, thus walking away as an Olympic legend.

Whether you love, hate, or feel indifferent about Anthony, there’s no denying that he is the one and only men’s basketball player with three Olympic gold medals.

This is a career-defining achievement for Anthony. Though he still has goals that he seeks to accomplish, being the first male basketball player to win three Olympic gold medals is a truly remarkable achievement.

Anthony is now the most decorated Olympic champion in men’s basketball history.

Next: Changing Lives

5. Visiting The Favelas

It may not be an actual example of making Olympic history, but Carmelo Anthony changed lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He didn’t just enjoy his time in Brazil as a tourist, but instead immersed himself in the culture.

Anthony visited the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. While there, he had his portrait painted, met the inhabitants, and played a pickup game.

This may seem like just another cool moment, but it could end up being quite historic. Anthony is an NBA superstar with global fame who visited a part of the city that’s not often visited by noteworthy individuals.

Merely showing up could inspire the next generation of Brazilian basketball stars to follow in Anthony’s footsteps as NBA players.

The fact that he actually took the time out to play a game with the kids in the favela is an example of this. Not all, but some of those kids—and those who merely heard the legend of this happening—will be

Thank you for everything you’ve done for your country and others, Carmelo Anthony.

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Cheers to an extraordinary international basketball career.