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

4. Leadership

You may be able to find 24 players who have better numbers, reputations, or advanced metric ratings than Carmelo Anthony. Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoeny of Sports Illustrated certainly believe that they were able to.

There aren’t 20 players in the NBA who could’ve led Team USA to the Olympic gold medal in Rio—and that’s a major reason why Anthony is a Top 20 player.

For the skeptics: both the players and the coaches on Team USA singled Anthony out as the vocal leader of the young Olympic squad.

Yes, Olympic basketball is played under FIBA Rules, and yes, Team USA was heavily favored to win the gold. Those who watched the games, however, saw an inexperienced team that wasn’t quite sure of how to cope with the expectations.

He needed every ounce of that leadership as Team USA was tied with Venezuela after a quarter, won four games by 10 points or less, and escaped two games with three-point wins.

Furthermore, Anthony could’ve resented Kristaps Porzingis for being immediately labeled as his heir apparent. Instead, Anthony has embraced his role as a mentor and big brother to the next face of the franchise.

Everyone in the NBA has talent, but not everyone commands respect like Anthony—and yes, that matters both on and off the court.

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