Carmelo Anthony is an American basketball player who plays for the National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise, the Portland Trail Blazers. Carmelo Anthony who stands as high as 6 feet 8 inches is one of the most decorated active players in the NBA. Anthony who first announced his presence to the world of basketball in 2003, after he claimed the NCAA championship in his first year in college has gone on to win 3 Gold medals in the Olympics and has earned NBA All-stars honours on 10 occasions. In this Carmelo Anthony biography facts, childhood, career, net worth and personal life, we review the life of an energetic athlete who rose from the streets of New York to take centre stage in the world of basketball.
Table of Contents
Carmelo Anthony Biography Facts, Age, Nickname, Family, Wife, Zodiac
- Full Name: Carmelo Kyam Anthony
- Nickname: Melo Man
- Date of birth: May 29, 1984 (age 39 years)
- Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 feet, 8 inches
- Shoe Size: 15
- Weight: 240 lb (109 kg)
- Education: Towson Catholic High School, Oak Hill Academy, Syracuse University
- Parents: Carmelo Iriarte (mother), Carmelo Iriarte (father)*
- Siblings: Wilford Anthony (brother), Daphne Anthony (sister), Michelle Anthony (sister), Robert Anthony (brother)
- Spouse: Alani Nicole “La La” Anthony (married 2010)
- Children: Kiyan Carmelo Anthony (son)
- Net Worth: $120 million
- Occupation: Basketball Player
- Playing Position: Small/Power forward
- Current Team: Portland Trail Blazers
- Playing Career: 2003–present
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Carmelo Anthony Childhood Story and Early Life
Carmelo Anthony is one of five children born to, Carmelo Iriarte, his father and Mary Anthony, his mother, in the Brooklyn Red Hook housing projects. His father, Carmelo Iriarte, was of Puerto Rican descent, while his mother, Mary, is African American. When he was just two years old, his father died as a result of cancer.
When he turned eight, his family moved to Baltimore, where young Anthony began playing basketball. Basketball was a distraction for young Anthony, who grew up in one of the roughest parts of Baltimore where there were a lot of killings and use of drugs.
Carmelo Anthony High School Career and Highlights
Anthony attended Towson Catholic High School, where he began receiving lots of attention as a result of his basketball skills. His good form earned him the 2001 metro player of the year honour by The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Catholic League also named him the player of the year. In his junior year in high school, Anthony led his team to the state championship. Though they didn’t win, Anthony’s performance earned him the Baltimore’s County Player of the Year and the Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year awards. He was also named All-Metropolitan Player of the Year.
Before he entered his senior year, he declared that he’ll be attending Syracuse University. But Anthony’s grade was below the required grade for him to attend Syracuse University. He thus moved to Oak Hill Academy. During the summer before he began attending Oak Hill, he played in the Adidas Big Time Tournament, where he was key to an AAU Baltimore Select team final four finish. He also played for the East team in the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival, where he began his long term friendship with LeBron James.
During his 2001/02 season with Oak Hill, Anthony led the team to win The Les Schwab Invitational where he was crowned the tournament’s MVP. He also won the Nike Academy National Invitational. In his senior year, Anthony averaged 8.1 rebounds, 21.7 points and 4.0 assists. As a result of his performance, he was named to the Parade First-Team All-American and the USA Today All-USA First Team. Anthony went on to participate in the McDonald’s All-American Game held in 2002 and the Sprite Slam Jam dunk which he won. In the high school All-Star games, Anthony played really well, and his performance shot his ranking in the HoopScoop high school senior in the class of 2002 to no. 1.
While Anthony was excelling in sports, he was faring badly in academics. In order for him to attend Syracuse University, he needed at least 18 in his ACT. His family contemplated that he’ll move on directly to the NBA if he didn’t do well in his ACT. He eventually scored 19 and went on to attend Syracuse.
Carmelo Anthony College Career and Highlights
In the 2002/03 season, Anthony began attending Syracuse University. In his freshman year, he led his University to win the NCAA tournament for the first time. He averaged 22.2 points during the season and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. For his accomplishment, he was named NCAA Freshman of the Year, Big East Conference Freshman of the Year. He also earned a place in the Big East All-Rookie Team and the All-Big East First Team. After just one year at college, he decided to turn pro.
Carmelo Anthony Professional/NBA Career and Highlights
Denver Nuggets (2003–2011)
In the 2003 NBA Draft, Anthony was the third overall pick in the draft. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets. He went on to make his debut in the NBA in October 2003. He went on to become the second-youngest player in the NBA to record 30 points in a game. In his rookie season, he claimed all the Rookie of the Month awards, the fourth player to achieve the feat. He went on to emerge second in the 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year voting and earned a place in the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In his sophomore season in the NBA, he became the third-youngest player to reach 2000 career points in the NBA. He also emerged MVP in the 2005 All-Star game.
In his third season in the NBA, the 2005/06 season, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team and signed a 5-year contract extension with the Denver Nuggets valued at $80 million. He became the first Nuggets player since 2001 to be named to an NBA All-star game in 2007. In the 2007/08 season, Anthony was named as a starter to his second successive All-star game. In the 2008/09 season, Anthony won his first playoff series. The Denver Nuggets were eventually defeated by the LA Lakers in the Conference finals. For the second time in his career, Anthony was named as a starter in the 2010 All-star game. In the 2010/11 season, Anthony requested a trade from the Nuggets and refused to sign a contract extension deal.
New York Knicks (2011–2017)
In February 2011, Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. He switched numbers from #15 to #7 with the Knicks. The Knicks were defeated in the first round of the 2010/11 playoffs. In his first season as a New York Knicks player, he earned a place in the All-NBA Third Team. His 2012/13 season was a spectacular one. He improved his scoring rate to become the 2013 NBA scoring champion. He also earned a place in the All-NBA Second Team, for the second time in his career. In January 2014, Anthony reached 19,000 career points and became the 50th NBA player to reach the feat. He also became the third-youngest player in the NBA to reach the feat.
After informing the New York Knicks he’ll become a free agent, he signed a five-year contract with the Knicks. In the 2014/15 season, he reached 20,000 career points. He also secured his seventh successive start in the NBA All-star game. In the 2015/16 season, he earned his eighth successive start in the NBA All-star game. In December 2016, Anthony became the 29th NBA player to score 23,000 career points. In February 2018, he earned his tenth NBA All-star game appearance. In September 2017, Anthony was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder after he had a clash with then Knicks president Phil Jackson.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018)
In January 2018, Anthony reached 25,000 career points, making him the 21st player in the NBA to achieve the feat. In July 2018, following a good season with the Thunders, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. In July, he agreed to a contract buyout.
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
In August 2018, he signed a one-year deal with the Houston Rockets. In November 2018, it was stated that Anthony will be leaving the Rockets. In January 2019, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls. The next month, the Bulls waived Anthony.
Portland Trail Blazers (2019–present)
In November 2019, Anthony signed a one-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. The deal which was unguaranteed at the time of signing was guaranteed in December 2019.
Carmelo Anthony National Team Career and Highlights
After his amazing first season in the NBA, he was chosen as part of the Team USA Olympics team. The team went on to win bronze. At the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where team USA won bronze, he was named to the FIBA World Championship All-Tournament Team. He was thus named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. At the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, he was the tournament’s second-highest goal scorer. He also won Gold with Team USA at the 2008 Olympics. At the 2012 Olympics, he led the team to defend its Olympics gold medal. After winning well at the 2016 Olympics, he became the first basketball player to claim three Olympics gold medal and became USA basketball’s most decorated Olympian.
Carmelo Anthony Net Worth, Salary, Sponsorship and Endorsement
Carmelo Anthony’s net worth is valued at $120 million. In 2019, Anthony earned as much as $28 million from salary and bonuses. He is ranked 42 in the top paid athletes of 2019 by Forbes. He has endorsement and sponsorship deals with Panini and Nike.
Carmelo Anthony Personal Life
Anthony is currently married to Alani “La La” Vazquez. The couple got engaged in 2004 and had their first child in 2007. Their union became official in 2010. After the 2016/17 regular season, the couple separated but reunited in December 2018.
Anthony’s sister, Michelle, died in 2010.
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