New York Knicks: Five Reasons Carmelo Anthony Is Still A Top 20 Player

Aug 21, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) and USA guard Kyrie Irving (10) pose for a picture after winning the gold medal in the men's basketball gold medal match during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: David E. Klutho-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) and USA guard Kyrie Irving (10) pose for a picture after winning the gold medal in the men's basketball gold medal match during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: David E. Klutho-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sports Illustrated recently released its list of the Top 100 NBA Players of 2017. New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony was ranked outside of the Top 20.


Aug 21, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) and USA guard Kyrie Irving (10) pose for a picture after winning the gold medal in the men's basketball gold medal match during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: David E. Klutho-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) and USA guard Kyrie Irving (10) pose for a picture after winning the gold medal in the men’s basketball gold medal match during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: David E. Klutho-USA TODAY Sports /

Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks are placing their faith in Carmelo Anthony being able to silence his critics. The skeptics are out in abundance entering the 2016-17 season, as many point to Anthony’s age and lack of a championship as reasons to doubt his abilities.

Perhaps the most egregious slight Anthony has endured was at the hands of Sports Illustrated, which claims he’s no longer a Top 20 player.

Sports Illustrated recently released its annual list of the Top 100 players in the NBA. Anthony made the cut, of course, but he was ranked at No. 24 overall—below the likes of Al Horford and DeAndre Jordan.

A Top 25 ranking is nothing to scoff at, but there are numerous reasons to believe Anthony is still a Top 20 player in the modern NBA.

Anthony has the accolades of a surefire Hall of Famer. He’s a six-time All-NBA honoree, a nine-time All-Star, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, a former scoring champion, and he currently ranks No. 29 on the all-time scoring list.

Accolades are a sign of past success, but there are five legitimate reasons to believe Anthony is still one of the Top 20 players in the NBA.

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