Career Timeline of Carmelo Anthony: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Carmelo Anthony made an impact.
Carmelo Anthony is a retired American professional basketball player, renowned as one of the NBA's greatest scorers. A ten-time NBA All-Star and six-time All-NBA Team selection, he played 19 seasons in the league. He began his career at Syracuse University, where he led the Orange to a national championship in 2003 and was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In 2021, Anthony's decorated career was further recognized with his inclusion in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
1977: George Gervin Sets Record
In 1977, George Gervin set the record when he was competing against David Thompson for the scoring title on the last day of the 1977-78 season.
1985: Nuggets Start 3-0
Before 2009, the last time the Nuggets started 3-0 was in 1985.
1985: Conference Finals
In 1985 was the last time the Denver Nuggets advanced to the Conference Finals.
1987: Nuggets Start 2-0
In 1987 was the last time the Nuggets started the season 2-0 prior to 2009.
1988: Alex English Scoring Record
In 1988, Alex English had the second most points through two games to start the season for the Nuggets.
December 21, 2000: Kobe Bryant's Shooting Percentage
On December 21, 2000, Kobe Bryant had a higher field goal percentage than Carmelo Anthony had on February 8, 2008.
2001: Antonio McDyess All-Star
In 2001, Antonio McDyess was the last Denver Nugget to be named an All-Star before Carmelo Anthony.
2002: Season at Syracuse University
During the 2002-03 season, Carmelo Anthony played one season at Syracuse University, where he averaged 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds.
June 26, 2003: Drafted by Denver Nuggets
On June 26, 2003, Carmelo Anthony's NBA career began when he was chosen third overall in the 2003 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets.
October 29, 2003: NBA Regular Season Debut
On October 29, 2003, Carmelo Anthony made his NBA regular season debut in a win against the San Antonio Spurs, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
2003: Drafted by the Denver Nuggets
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony entered the NBA draft and was selected with the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets.
2003: NCAA Tournament Title
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony helped guide the Syracuse Orangemen to their first ever NCAA tournament title. He also earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award.
2003: Signed Shoe Deal with Jordan Brand
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony signed his first shoe deal with Jordan Brand for $3.5 million per year for six years.
2003: Nuggets Draft Carmelo Anthony
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony was drafted by the Denver Nuggets, who had previously finished with one of the worst records in the NBA.
2003: Syracuse National Championship
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony won a national championship as a freshman with the Syracuse Orange and was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
2003: Declared for the NBA Draft
In 2003, after accomplishing his goals at Syracuse, Carmelo Anthony declared himself eligible for the NBA draft, foregoing his remaining college eligibility.
February 9, 2004: Reaches 1,000 Career Points
On February 9, 2004, Carmelo Anthony became the third-youngest player to reach the 1,000-point plateau in NBA history.
March 30, 2004: Sets Nuggets Rookie Scoring Record
On March 30, 2004, Carmelo Anthony scored 41 points against the Seattle SuperSonics to set a new Denver Nuggets franchise record for most points in a game by a rookie.
December 4, 2004: Reaches 2,000 Career Points
On December 4, 2004, Carmelo Anthony became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 career points.
2004: Led the Nuggets to the Playoffs
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony began leading the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs every year, a streak that would last until 2010.
2004: Donation After Tsunami
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony donated $35,000 to relief efforts following the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
2004: Playoff Appearance with Nuggets
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony helped the Denver Nuggets qualify for the playoffs as the eighth seed, marking a significant turnaround for the team.
2004: Member of 2004 USA Olympic Basketball Team
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony was selected, along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, to be part of the USA Olympic basketball team that won the bronze medal at the Olympics.
2004: First Signature Shoe Released
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony's first signature shoe, the Jordan Carmelo 1.5, was released.
November 23, 2005: 1,000th Career Rebound
On November 23, 2005, Carmelo Anthony hauled down his 1,000th career rebound while playing against the Detroit Pistons.
2005: $1,000 Donated Per Point Scored
In 2005, Carmelo Anthony donated $1,000 per point scored against San Antonio and Houston on January 8 and 9.
January 8, 2006: Game-Winning Shot Against Houston
On January 8, 2006, Carmelo Anthony made a game-winning jump shot in the last five seconds against the Houston Rockets.
January 18, 2006: Late Game Shot Against Cavaliers
On January 18, 2006, Carmelo Anthony made a shot in the final 22 seconds against the Cleveland Cavaliers, securing a lead that the Nuggets did not relinquish.
March 17, 2006: 5,000 Career Points
On March 17, 2006, Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points against the Memphis Grizzlies to push his career point total over the 5,000 mark, becoming the second youngest player to accomplish that feat.
August 23, 2006: Set U.S. Scoring Record at FIBA Tournament
On August 23, 2006, Carmelo Anthony set the U.S. scoring record with 35 points against Italy at the FIBA World Championship.
December 14, 2006: Opened "The Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center"
On December 14, 2006, Carmelo Anthony opened "The Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center" in Baltimore, contributing to community development and youth support.
2006: Ranked in "The Giving Back 30 List"
In 2006, Carmelo Anthony was listed as number eight in "The Giving Back 30 List of Largest Charitable Donations by Celebrities" for charitable contributions totaling $4,282,000.
January 24, 2008: NBA All-Star Selection
On January 24, 2008, Carmelo Anthony was named to his second consecutive NBA All-Star Game, his first as a starter, leading in votes among Western Conference forwards.
December 10, 2008: Tied NBA Record for Points in a Quarter
On December 10, 2008, Carmelo Anthony tied George Gervin's record for most points scored in a single quarter, with 33 points in the third quarter, during a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
2008: Member of 2008 Summer Olympics Team
In 2008, Carmelo Anthony was a member of the USA Olympic team in Beijing that won the gold medal.
January 30, 2009: Return from Injury
On January 30, 2009, Carmelo Anthony returned to the Nuggets' starting lineup after recovering from a broken bone in his hand, scoring 19 points in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats.
April 29, 2009: First Playoff Series Win
On April 29, 2009, Carmelo Anthony secured his first playoff series win as the Nuggets beat the New Orleans Hornets 107-86, with Anthony scoring a playoff career-high 34 points.
2009: Led Nuggets to Conference Finals
In 2009, Carmelo Anthony led the Denver Nuggets to their first conference finals appearance since 1985, marking a significant achievement for the team.
2009: Start of the Season
In 2009, Carmelo Anthony totaled 71 points in the opening two games, scoring 30 points in the home opener and 41 the next night.
January 21, 2010: NBA All-Star Game Selection
On January 21, 2010, Carmelo Anthony was named as a starter for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, leading the Western Conference ballots in votes for forwards.
March 26, 2010: Game-Winning Shot Against Raptors
On March 26, 2010, Carmelo Anthony made a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Toronto Raptors.
November 15, 2010: Career High Rebounds
On November 15, 2010, Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and a career-high 22 rebounds for the first 20-20 game of his career against the Phoenix Suns.
November 26, 2010: Game Winning Jumper
On November 26, 2010, Carmelo Anthony hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer against the Bulls.
2010: Playoff Streak with Nuggets Continues
From 2004 to 2010, Carmelo Anthony continued to lead the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs, achieving consistent success during this period.
February 22, 2011: Traded to Knicks
On February 22, 2011, Carmelo Anthony, along with Chauncey Billups, was traded to the New York Knicks in a multi-player deal.
2011: Started Wearing Number 7
In 2011, Carmelo Anthony started wearing number 7 which he wore until 2017.
2011: Traded to New York Knicks
In 2011, Carmelo Anthony was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks before the NBA trade deadline.
2011: First Full Season as a Knick
The 2011-12 season brought new expectations, as the season would be Carmelo Anthony's first full season as a Knick.
April 2, 2013: Career High 50 Points
On April 2, 2013, Carmelo Anthony tied his career high by scoring 50 points in a 102–90 win over the Miami Heat, becoming the first player in NBA history to record 50+ points with no baskets in the paint.
April 15, 2013: Eastern Conference Player of the Week and Scoring Champion
On April 15, 2013, Carmelo Anthony won his second straight Eastern Conference Player of the Week award and became the 2013 NBA scoring champion with 28.7 points per game.
January 24, 2014: Career-High 62 Points
On January 24, 2014, Carmelo Anthony scored a career-high 62 points against the Charlotte Bobcats, setting a Knicks' single-game scoring record and a Madison Square Garden single-game scoring record.
February 16, 2014: Seventh All-Star Game
On February 16, 2014, Carmelo Anthony played in his seventh All-Star Game as a starter for the East All-Stars.
June 23, 2014: Opt-Out of Knicks Contract
On June 23, 2014, Carmelo Anthony informed the Knicks that he would opt out of his contract and become a free agent.
July 13, 2014: Re-Signing with the Knicks
On July 13, 2014, Carmelo Anthony re-signed with the Knicks to a five-year, $124 million contract.
January 2015: Klay Thompson Breaks Record
In January 2015, Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors broke Carmelo Anthony's record for points scored in a quarter.
January 22, 2015: All-Star Game Starter
On January 22, 2015, Carmelo Anthony was named as a starter in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game, his seventh consecutive start and eighth overall.
April 2016: US Olympic Team Leader
As of April 2016, Carmelo Anthony was the US Olympic team's all-time leader in points, rebounds, and games played.
2016: Won Third Olympic Gold Medal
In 2016, Carmelo Anthony won his third Olympic gold medal with Team USA, becoming the first player in US men's basketball history to achieve this feat. He was also named co-USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.
January 29, 2017: Season High 45 Points
On January 29, 2017, Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 45 points in a quadruple-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
February 15, 2017: All-Star Game Replacement
On February 15, 2017, Carmelo Anthony was announced as the replacement for Kevin Love on the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, gaining his tenth All-Star appearance.
February 25, 2017: Last 30-Point Game Before February 23, 2020
February 25, 2017, was the last time Carmelo Anthony scored over 30 points in a game before he scored 32 on February 23, 2020.
September 25, 2017: Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder
On September 25, 2017, Carmelo Anthony was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick.
2017: Stopped Wearing Number 7
In 2017, Carmelo Anthony stopped wearing number 7 which he started wearing in 2011.
July 25, 2018: Traded to Atlanta Hawks
On July 25, 2018, Carmelo Anthony was traded by the Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team trade.
August 13, 2018: Signed with the Houston Rockets
On August 13, 2018, Carmelo Anthony signed a one-year contract with the Houston Rockets for $2.4 million, reuniting with his former Knicks coach, Mike D'Antoni.
November 8, 2018: Last NBA Game Before Signing With Trail Blazers
November 8, 2018, marked Carmelo Anthony's last NBA game before signing with the Portland Trail Blazers on November 19, 2019.
2018: Thirteen Shoes Released in Melo Line
As of 2018, thirteen shoes have been released in the Melo line.
January 22, 2019: Traded to the Chicago Bulls
On January 22, 2019, Carmelo Anthony was traded by the Houston Rockets to the Chicago Bulls along with draft rights and cash considerations, in exchange for the draft rights to Tadija Dragićević. The trade helped the Rockets alleviate luxury tax penalties.
November 19, 2019: Signed with the Portland Trail Blazers and Debut
On November 19, 2019, Carmelo Anthony signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. On the same day, Anthony made his debut for the Trail Blazers in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 10 points.
January 1, 2020: Season-High Points Against the Knicks
On January 1, 2020, Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 26 points in a game against the New York Knicks.
August 10, 2020: Passed John Havlicek and Paul Pierce in Career Scoring
On August 10, 2020, Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points in the game against the Philadelphia 76ers, passing John Havlicek and Paul Pierce on the NBA career scoring list.
November 2020: Re-signed with the Trail Blazers
In November 2020, Carmelo Anthony re-signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on a one-year contract.
January 1, 2021: Moved Past Tim Duncan on NBA Career Scoring List
On January 1, 2021, Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 18 points, moving past Tim Duncan into 14th place on the NBA career scoring list.
August 6, 2021: Signed with the Los Angeles Lakers
On August 6, 2021, Carmelo Anthony signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Carmelo Anthony was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, recognizing him as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
January 28, 2022: 9th Player in NBA History to Reach 28,000 Points
On January 28, 2022, Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets, becoming the 9th player in NBA history to reach 28,000 points.
April 5, 2022: Final NBA Game
On April 5, 2022, Carmelo Anthony played his final NBA game, scoring 10 points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
May 22, 2023: Announced Retirement from the NBA
On May 22, 2023, Carmelo Anthony officially announced his retirement from the NBA.
