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Carmelo Anthony retires after 19 NBA seasons

Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Former NBA star Carmelo Anthony announced Monday his retirement from professional basketball.

"Now the time has come for me to say goodbye to the court where I made my name, to the game that gave me purpose and pride," the 10-time All-Star said in a video posted on his social media.

Anthony played 19 NBA seasons, suiting up for the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers. He last played in the league in 2021-22, appearing predominantly off the bench in 69 games for the Lakers.

One of the greatest scorers in the sport's history, Anthony registered 28,289 points throughout his career, ranking ninth all time in the NBA. Until announcing his retirement Monday, he was second in points among active players behind former Lakers teammate LeBron James, who owns the outright record with 38,652.

Anthony was also a frequent addition to Team USA. The 38-year-old joined the international squad for four Olympic Games, securing three straight gold medals (2008, 2012, and 2016) and one bronze (2004).

In his goodbye, Anthony cited his son, Kiyan, as his post-career legacy. The 6-foot-3 high-schooler is considered a four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class and the fourth-best recruit out of New York State, per ESPN.

Anthony was selected third overall by Denver in the fabled 2003 draft, behind James and Darko Milicic and ahead of other stars such as Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. He first made his mark on the league with the Nuggets over seven-and-a-half seasons, garnering four All-Star selections and averaging 24.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 546 starts.

Denver traded Anthony, a pending free agent at the time, midway through the 2011-12 season to his hometown Knicks in a blockbuster three-team, 13-player deal also involving the Minnesota Timberwolves. The sharpshooting forward spent six-and-a-half campaigns in New York, where he played some of the best basketball of his career. Anthony led the league in scoring in 2012-13 with 28.7 points per game and was named an All-Star every season while with the Knicks.

He also helped the franchise return to the postseason in three consecutive campaigns from 2011-13 following a six-year playoff drought. However, New York topped out with a conference semifinals appearance in 2013, falling in six games to the Indiana Pacers.

After a season with the Thunder in 2017-18, Anthony was traded to the Atlanta Hawks but never played for the side as he was immediately bought out. He signed a minimum contract with the Houston Rockets a month later but lasted just 10 games before being traded to the Chicago Bulls and waived again.

Following nearly a year away from basketball, Anthony resurfaced with the Portland Trail Blazers in November 2019, starting in all 58 appearances with the club. He transitioned to a full-time bench role for the first time in his career the next season. Anthony helped the Blazers make the playoffs in both campaigns, but they were eliminated in the first round each time.

Prior to his 19-year professional career, Anthony starred for one season at Syracuse, averaging 22.2 points and helping the program win its only NCAA title.

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