From Rio de Janeiro, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has openly dismissed critics of his NBA career, choosing instead to emphasize the profound significance of his achievements in international basketball.
During an interview with ESPN at the Rio Olympics, Anthony highlighted that the remarkable prospect of becoming the first U.S. male basketball player to secure three Olympic gold medals far outweighs any lingering disappointment regarding his NBA playoff record, which, to date, includes just one trip to the conference finals and only two advancements beyond the first round.
“Most athletes don`t even get the chance to say they`ve won a gold medal, let alone three,” Anthony stated. “I would be incredibly content to walk away from the game knowing I gave it my absolute all, having played at a consistently high level across every stage: high school, college—where I secured a championship at Syracuse—and potentially three Olympic gold medals.” He added, “When my career concludes, I can look back, even without an NBA championship ring, and confidently say I had a truly great career.”
The 32-year-old Anthony solidified his place in history on Wednesday night by becoming the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. men`s Olympic team. He contributed 31 points, including nine crucial three-pointers, in Team USA`s hard-fought 98-88 victory over Australia.
Currently in his fourth Olympic appearance, Anthony has accumulated 293 points, surpassing previous record-holder LeBron James by 20 points, who competed in three Olympics. David Robinson (270 points) and Michael Jordan (256 points) hold the third and fourth positions, respectively, on the U.S. all-time scoring list. While Brazil`s Oscar Schmidt holds the overall men`s Olympic record with 1,093 points, his minutes were not restricted in the same way as players on powerful teams like the U.S.
Team USA forward Paul George praised Anthony`s impactful performance against Australia: “He was clearly craving that moment. He was extraordinary tonight. We joke about this being his farewell tour, but he was genuinely special. He was the reason we secured that win.”
An NBA veteran of 13 years, having starred for the Knicks for the past six seasons, Anthony previously earned Olympic gold medals with the United States in both 2008 and 2012, following an earlier bronze medal finish in 2004.
“Of course, winning an NBA championship is always the ultimate goal for us professionals,” Anthony clarified. “However, a new champion is crowned every single year, presenting an annual opportunity to compete for that title. The Olympics, by contrast, only occur once every four years, making those achievements uniquely special and more defining.”
Following Anthony`s pivotal 14 points in the fourth quarter, which helped the Americans narrowly win an unexpectedly close game, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski lauded his performance. Krzyzewski told SportsCenter, “Carmelo Anthony is a phenomenal player, whether nationally, internationally, or across the basketball universe. He is undeniably one of the world`s best players. Furthermore, he possesses significantly more experience in the international game than anyone else on our roster. He has been our unwavering leader throughout this entire campaign.”
