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

By Maxwell Ogden

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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Nov 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) looks on as Magic forward Tobias Harris (not pictured) pushed New York Knicks center Robin Lopez (8) into forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during a three point shot during the first quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) looks on as Magic forward Tobias Harris (not pictured) pushed New York Knicks center Robin Lopez (8) into forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during a three point shot during the first quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Scoring Prowess

Versatility is more valuable than any individual trait, but if there’s an exception to the rule, it’s scoring. This isn’t to say that any high-quality scorer can be forgiven for their flaws in other areas; they can’t be

It’s to state that truly transcendent scorers are more valuable than just about any other player on a roster—and Anthony is a truly transcendent scorer.

Anthony currently resides at No. 29 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 22,497 points in 13 seasons. He won the 2012-13 scoring title, has averaged at least 25 points per game in seven different seasons, and has never dipped below 20 points per contest.

Even in 2015-16, when a knee injury took his offseason away from him and he played for two coaches who were both replaced, Anthony managed to rank No. 13 in the NBA in scoring.

Anthony is a genuinely elite scorer. His game is built to translate to the postseason, as evidenced by his career postseason average of 25.7 points per game and his average of 28.8 points per contest during his most recent appearance.

When a player’s teammates aren’t scoring and the game is slipping away, can they take over? For Anthony, the answer is a resounding yes.

Next: Commanding Attention

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