History of Carmelo Anthony in Timeline
Carmelo Anthony, nicknamed "Melo," is a retired American professional basketball player who had a 19-season NBA career. A ten-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA Team member, Anthony rose to prominence at Syracuse University, leading the Orange to a national championship in 2003 and earning the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. Known for his scoring prowess, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Anthony was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice in 2025, both individually and as part of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
May 29, 1984: Carmelo Anthony Born
On May 29, 1984, Carmelo Kyam Anthony, nicknamed "Melo", was born. He would later become a professional basketball player.
1985: Nuggets Last Conference Finals Appearance
In 1985, The Denver Nuggets had their last conference finals appearance before Carmelo Anthony led them there again in 2009.
1989: Robinson's Playoff Scoring Record
In 1989, David Robinson led a playoff team in scoring as a rookie, a feat that Carmelo Anthony would match in 2004.
1999: Growth Spurt
During the summer of 1999, Carmelo Anthony grew 5 inches (130 mm).
December 21, 2000: Kobe Bryant's high shooting percentage
On December 21, 2000, Kobe Bryant had a .769 field goal percentage on a 20-of-26 shooting effort, in a 99–94 road victory over the Houston Rockets.
2000: Oak Hill Academy Winner of USA Today
In 2000, Oak Hill Academy won the USA Today high school championship.
2001: Oak Hill Academy
In 2001, Carmelo Anthony transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior campaign.
2001: Baltimore Sun's Metro Player of the Year
In 2001, Carmelo Anthony was named The Baltimore Sun's metro player of the year, as well as Baltimore Catholic League player of the year.
2002: Plays for Syracuse University
During the 2002-03 season, Carmelo Anthony played one season at Syracuse University.
2002: McDonald's All-American Game
In 2002, Carmelo Anthony was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic, scoring a game-high 27 points, and the 2002 McDonald's All-American Game, where he played on the same team with two future New York Knicks teammates, Raymond Felton and Amar'e Stoudemire. In that game, he scored 19 points and won the Sprite Slam Jam dunk contest.
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 an 80–72 home win against the San Antonio Spurs, finishing the night with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
2003: Declared Eligible for NBA Draft
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony declared himself eligible for the NBA draft after accomplishing his goals at Syracuse University in one season.
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: 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: National Championship with Syracuse Orange
In 2003, Carmelo Anthony, as a freshman playing college basketball for the Syracuse Orange, won a national championship and was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
2003: Drafted by Denver Nuggets
In 2003, after one season at Syracuse, Carmelo Anthony entered the NBA draft and was selected with the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets.
February 9, 2004: Reached 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 with a 20-point effort in an 86–83 win against the Memphis Grizzlies.
February 13, 2004: Participated in Rookie Challenge
On February 13, 2004, Carmelo Anthony participated in the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend.
March 10, 2004: NBA Player of the Week
From March 10, 2004 – March 14, 2004, Carmelo Anthony was named NBA Player of the Week.
March 14, 2004: NBA Player of the Week
From March 10, 2004 – March 14, 2004, Carmelo Anthony was named NBA Player of the Week.
March 30, 2004: New Nuggets Rookie 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.
April 6, 2004: NBA Player of the Week
From April 6, 2004 – April 10, 2004, Carmelo Anthony was named NBA Player of the Week.
April 10, 2004: NBA Player of the Week
From April 6, 2004 – April 10, 2004, Carmelo Anthony was named NBA Player of the Week.
December 4, 2004: Reached 2,000 Career Points
On December 4, 2004, Carmelo Anthony became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 career points in a game versus the Miami Heat.
2004: Appearance in Stop Snitchin' Video
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony appeared in a video entitled Stop Snitchin', which warned against collaborating with the police in Baltimore. He later distanced himself from the video.
2004: Engagement to La La Vazquez
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony became engaged to Alani "La La" Vazquez.
2004: Publication of First Book
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony co-authored his first book, Carmelo Anthony: It's Just The Beginning, with Greg Brown, detailing his rise to the NBA.
2004: Tsunami Relief Donation
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony donated $35,000 to relief efforts after the tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake.
2004: Led Nuggets to Playoffs
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony led the Denver Nuggets to a 43–39 record and a playoff berth, becoming the first NBA rookie to lead a playoff team in scoring since David Robinson in 1989.
2004: Playoff Appearance with Denver Nuggets
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony led the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs, marking the beginning of a streak where they made the playoffs every year until 2010.
2004: Bronze Medal at the Olympics
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony was a member of the USA Olympic basketball team that won the bronze medal. He averaged 2.4 points in seven games.
2004: Marijuana Citation
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony was cited for marijuana possession, but the charges were later dropped.
2004: Release of Signature Shoe
In 2004, Carmelo Anthony's first signature shoe, the Jordan Carmelo 1.5, was released.
November 23, 2005: Anthony grabs his 1,000th career rebound
On November 23, 2005, Carmelo Anthony secured his 1,000th career rebound during a game against the Detroit Pistons.
2005: Music Video Appearance
In 2005, Carmelo Anthony appeared in the music video for Common's song "Be" from the album Be.
2005: Donations to Charity
In 2005, Carmelo Anthony donated $1,000 per point scored against San Antonio and Houston on January 8 and 9, respectively. He also committed $3 million to Syracuse University for a basketball practice facility.
2005: Clutch Performer Recognition
In 2005, Carmelo Anthony established himself as one of the premier clutch performers in the NBA, making five game-winning shots in the last five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime during the 2005-06 season. ESPN staff writer Dave McMenamin suggested in 2005 that Anthony could challenge Kobe Bryant for the title of "Mr. Clutch".
2005: Rookie Challenge MVP
In 2005, Carmelo Anthony played in the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge and scored a game-high 31 points, becoming the MVP of the game.
January 8, 2006: Anthony makes game-winning shot against Houston
On January 8, 2006, Carmelo Anthony made a game-winning shot in the last five seconds of the game against the Houston team.
January 16, 2006: USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year
On January 16, 2006, Carmelo Anthony was chosen as the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year after his performance at the FIBA World Championship.
January 18, 2006: Anthony gives Nuggets lead against Cavaliers
On January 18, 2006, Carmelo Anthony made shots in the final 22 seconds of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers giving the Nuggets a lead.
March 17, 2006: Anthony surpasses 5,000 career points
On March 17, 2006, Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points against the Memphis Grizzlies, surpassing 5,000 career points, becoming the second youngest player to reach this milestone.
August 23, 2006: U.S. Scoring Record
On August 23, 2006, Carmelo Anthony set the U.S. scoring record in a game with 35 points against Italy in the FIBA tournament.
December 14, 2006: Opening of Youth Development Center
On December 14, 2006, Carmelo Anthony opened "The Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center" in Baltimore.
December 16, 2006: Knicks-Nuggets Brawl
On December 16, 2006, Carmelo Anthony was involved in the Knicks–Nuggets brawl at Madison Square Garden, resulting in a 15-game suspension.
2006: Charitable Contributions Recognition
For charitable contributions totaling $4,282,000, Carmelo Anthony was listed as number eight in "The Giving Back 30 List of Largest Charitable Donations by Celebrities in 2006".
2006: Partnership with Hemelgarn Racing
In 2006, Carmelo Anthony partnered with Hemelgarn Racing to campaign a car driven by P. J. Chesson in the 2006 IndyCar Series season. The team dismantled after a crash in the Indy 500.
February 2, 2007: Anthony involved in minor car accident
On February 2, 2007, Carmelo Anthony and teammate J.R. Smith were involved in a minor car accident where neither player was injured.
March 7, 2007: Birth of Son Kiyan
On March 7, 2007, Carmelo Anthony and La La Vazquez welcomed their son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony.
January 24, 2008: Anthony named to NBA All-Star Game as starter
On January 24, 2008, Carmelo Anthony was named to his second consecutive NBA All-Star Game, his first as a starter, leading Western Conference forwards in votes.
April 14, 2008: Arrest for DUI
On April 14, 2008, Carmelo Anthony was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, leading to a two-game suspension by the Denver Nuggets.
December 10, 2008: Anthony ties NBA record for points in a quarter
On December 10, 2008, Carmelo Anthony tied George Gervin's NBA record for most points scored in one quarter (33) during a game against the Timberwolves.
2008: Professional Athlete of the Year Award
Carmelo Anthony won Professional Athlete of the Year award in 2008.
2008: Member of 2008 U.S. Olympic team
In 2008, Carmelo Anthony was a member of the U.S. Olympic team.
2008: Gold Medal at Olympics
In 2008, Carmelo Anthony won a gold medal playing for the US national team at the Olympics.
January 4, 2009: Anthony breaks bone in hand
On January 4, 2009, Carmelo Anthony broke a bone in his hand during a game against the Indiana Pacers and chose to have it splinted.
January 2009: Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Selection
In January 2009, Carmelo Anthony was selected by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame as its professional athlete of the year for 2008.
January 30, 2009: Anthony returns from injury
On January 30, 2009, Carmelo Anthony returned to the Nuggets starting lineup after recovering from a hand injury, scoring 19 points against the Charlotte Bobcats.
April 14, 2009: Induction Banquet Headliner
On April 14, 2009, Carmelo Anthony and wrestler Henry Cejudo were chosen as the special award headliners for the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet.
April 2009: Named to ESPN RISE's all-decade team
In April 2009, Carmelo Anthony was named to the ESPN RISE's all-decade team.
April 29, 2009: Anthony wins first playoff series
On April 29, 2009, Carmelo Anthony secured his first playoff series win with the Nuggets, defeating the New Orleans Hornets, where he scored a playoff career-high of 34 points.
2009: Led Nuggets to Conference Finals
In 2009, Carmelo Anthony led the Denver Nuggets to their first conference finals appearance since 1985.
January 21, 2010: Anthony named All-Star starter
On January 21, 2010, Carmelo Anthony was named a starter for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, leading Western Conference forwards in votes and marking his third All-Star appearance.
March 26, 2010: Anthony makes game-winning shot against Raptors
On March 26, 2010, Carmelo Anthony made a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Toronto Raptors after missing his initial attempt.
July 10, 2010: Marriage to La La Vazquez
On July 10, 2010, Carmelo Anthony and La La Vazquez were married in New York City. VH1 filmed the ceremony for a reality series called La La's Full Court Wedding.
November 15, 2010: Anthony records first 20-20 game
On November 15, 2010, Carmelo Anthony achieved his first 20-20 game, scoring 20 points and grabbing a career-high 22 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns.
November 26, 2010: Anthony hits game-winning jumper against Bulls
On November 26, 2010, Carmelo Anthony hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer against the Chicago Bulls.
2010: Sister's Death
In 2010, Carmelo Anthony's sister, Michelle, passed away.
2010: Denver Nuggets Playoff Streak Ends
In 2010, Carmelo Anthony's streak of leading the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs ended. He had led them to the playoffs every year since 2004.
February 22, 2011: Anthony traded to New York Knicks
On February 22, 2011, Carmelo Anthony, along with Chauncey Billups, was traded to the New York Knicks in a multi-player deal, after which Anthony signed a three-year, $65 million contract extension.
2011: Traded to New York Knicks
In 2011, Carmelo Anthony was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks just days before the NBA trade deadline.
2011: Wore Jersey Number 7
In 2011, Carmelo Anthony wore jersey number 7 for New York Knicks
January 2012: Honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans
In January 2012, Carmelo Anthony was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.
2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Appearance
In 2012, Carmelo Anthony participated in a merchandising cooperation with Nickelodeon for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, where he has several guest appearances, namely in the Amazing Adventures spin-off comics to the 2012 TV series.
2012: Gold Medal at Olympics
In 2012, Carmelo Anthony won a gold medal playing for the US national team at the Olympics.
2012: Nurse Jackie Guest Star
In spring 2012, Carmelo Anthony guest starred in several episodes of the Showtime series Nurse Jackie as a professional baseball player going through drug rehab.
2013: Appearance in Chinese Film Amazing
In 2013, Carmelo Anthony, along with Dwight Howard and Scottie Pippen, appeared in the Chinese film Amazing, a joint venture between the NBA and Shanghai Film Group Corporation.
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.
2014: Sons of Anarchy Cameo
In 2014, Carmelo Anthony made a cameo appearance in an episode of the FX series Sons of Anarchy.
2015: Founding of Puerto Rico FC
In 2015, Carmelo Anthony founded the North American Soccer League expansion club Puerto Rico FC.
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: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Appearance
In 2016, Carmelo Anthony participated in a merchandising cooperation with Nickelodeon for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, appearing in the action film.
2016: Third Olympic Gold Medal
In 2016, Carmelo Anthony won his third Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the Olympic Games, becoming the first player in US men's basketball history to achieve this milestone. He also became USA basketball's most decorated Olympian, leading in scoring, rebounding, and games played.
2016: Separation from La La
Shortly after the end of the 2016-17 regular season, reports emerged that La La had moved out of the couple's apartment, and they were living separately.
February 25, 2017: Last 30 Point Game
February 25, 2017, was the last time that Anthony scored over 30 points, before his performance on February 23, 2020 when he was playing for the New York Knicks.
September 25, 2017: Trade to the 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.
November 9, 2017: Passing Allen Iverson on All-Time Scoring List
On November 9, 2017, Carmelo Anthony passed Allen Iverson on the NBA all-time scoring list, moving to 24th place after scoring 28 points in the game.
November 26, 2017: Passing Ray Allen on All-Time Scoring List
On November 26, 2017, Carmelo Anthony passed Ray Allen on the NBA all-time scoring list, moving to 23rd place.
December 11, 2017: Passing Vince Carter on All-Time Scoring List
On December 11, 2017, Carmelo Anthony surpassed Vince Carter for 22nd place on the NBA all-time scoring list.
2017: Wore Jersey Number 7
In 2017, Carmelo Anthony wore jersey number 7 for New York Knicks
2017: Trade Demand
In the 2017 off-season, Carmelo Anthony demanded a trade from the Knicks due to conflicts with team president Phil Jackson. Initially, he only wanted to be traded to the Houston Rockets, but later expanded his list to include the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
January 27, 2018: Scoring 25,000 Career Points
On January 27, 2018, Carmelo Anthony became the 21st NBA player to score 25,000 career points.
March 19, 2018: Passing Reggie Miller on NBA Career Scoring Ladder
On March 19, 2018, Carmelo Anthony scored 15 points in a victory over the Toronto Raptors, bringing his career total to 25,289 and moving him past Reggie Miller into 19th place on the NBA career scoring ladder.
August 13, 2018: Signed with the Houston Rockets
On August 13, 2018, Carmelo Anthony signed a one-year, $2.4 million veteran minimum contract with the Houston Rockets.
November 8, 2018: Last NBA Game Before Trail Blazers
Carmelo Anthony's last NBA game before signing with the Portland Trail Blazers was on November 8, 2018.
December 2018: Reconciliation with La La
In December 2018, Carmelo Anthony and La La reconciled after a period of separation.
2018: Melo Line Shoes Released
As of 2018, thirteen shoes had been released in the Melo line.
2018: Playoff drought with the Knicks
During Carmelo Anthony's seven seasons with the Knicks, the team only managed to win one playoff series in 2018.
January 22, 2019: Traded to the Chicago Bulls
On January 22, 2019, the Houston Rockets traded Carmelo Anthony to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for draft rights and cash considerations. This move allowed the Rockets to reduce their luxury-tax penalties.
November 19, 2019: Signed with Portland Trail Blazers and Debut
On November 19, 2019, Carmelo Anthony signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. He made his debut the same day in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 10 points.
January 1, 2020: Season-High 26 Points Against Knicks
On January 1, 2020, Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 26 points in a loss to the New York Knicks.
August 1, 2020: NBA restart
On August 1, 2020, in the team's 1st game in the NBA restart against the Memphis Grizzlies, Anthony scored 21 points.
August 10, 2020: Passing Havlicek and Pierce in Career Scoring
On August 10, 2020, Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points against the Philadelphia 76ers, surpassing John Havlicek for 16th place and Paul Pierce for 15th place on the NBA career scoring ladder, with a total of 26,411 points.
August 13, 2020: Maurice Lucas Award
On August 13, 2020, Carmelo Anthony was named the recipient of the 2019–20 Maurice Lucas Award.
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.
2020: Property Sale
In 2020, Carmelo Anthony sold his property in New York.
January 1, 2021: Passing Tim Duncan on NBA Career Scoring List
On January 1, 2021, Carmelo Anthony scored a then season-high 18 points to move past Tim Duncan into 14th place on the NBA career scoring list.
April 2021: Launch of Creative 7 Production Company
In April 2021, Carmelo Anthony launched a production company called Creative 7, named after his New York Knicks jersey number.
June 2021: Divorce Filing
In June 2021, La La filed for divorce from Carmelo Anthony.
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.
January 28, 2022: Reaching 28,000 Career Points
On January 28, 2022, Carmelo Anthony became the 9th player in NBA history to reach 28,000 points, scoring 19 points in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
April 5, 2022: Final NBA Game
On April 5, 2022, Carmelo Anthony played his final NBA game, scoring ten points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
2022: Publication of Memoir
In 2022, Carmelo Anthony wrote a memoir titled Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised: A Memoir of Survival and Hope, co-written with D. Watkins, focusing on his upbringing.
May 22, 2023: Retirement Announcement
On May 22, 2023, Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement from the NBA.
November 2023: Launch of 7PM in Brooklyn Podcast
In November 2023, Carmelo Anthony and The Kid Mero launched a weekly podcast called 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & the Kid Mero.
2025: Hall of Fame Induction
Carmelo Anthony will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.
2025: Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2025, Carmelo Anthony was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as an individual player and as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
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