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Chasing Barkley’s Legacy: Knicks Icon Unveils Aspiration to Surpass Charles Barkley’s Record in a Crucial Basketball Skill

Published 11/16/2023, 2:52 PM EST

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Carmelo Anthony is a name that we will be missing this season; after playing in the league for 19 seasons, the 10X NBA All-Star retired this summer in May. However, he will always be remembered as one of the top scorers in the league’s history as well as a player who made the games interesting and fun to watch.

Melo was part of the US Olympic team that brought home three gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Apart from being one of the greatest scorers, he will probably go down as one of the best rebounders in the NBA. Rebounding is a crucial skill in basketball that determines the direction of the ball. Melo recalls the inspiration behind this exceptional skill that he had.

Carmelo enjoyed getting the rebounds

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In a recent Hot Ones episode of the First We Feast YouTube channel, Carmelo talks about his reputation for being one of the best rebounders in the league. His commitment to getting those boards was evident in his games and in the episode, he admits that he always wanted to make the game fun. “Imma gon make this game fun. I wanna break the Charles Barkley rebounding record,” says the Knicks legend and shares where he derived his motivation.

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Barkley was the shortest player to lead the league in rebounds and Carmelo wanted to break this record; he used this as fuel to up his rebounding skills. Playing the position that he was assigned, which was the small forward, and boasting a height of 6’8″, Carmelo recalls that he was always told, “You have to be one of the best rebounders at that position.” He continues, “So I always enjoyed, like, rebounding. It was just fun.” For Carmelo, his inspiration was Moses Malone, and watching his clips really polished his own skills.

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Carmelo smashed Kobe’s record

After a 19-year career, Melo retired with an average of 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. However, what will stand out as most memorable is his 2014 game in Madison Square Garden against the Charlotte Hornets. Carmelo scored 62 points in the game, breaking Kobe‘s 2009 record of 61 points in the same arena.

If anything, Melo was unbeatable in scoring during his prime, and many will agree that he is underrated. In fact, during his rookie year, he led the Nuggets to the playoffs. He will always be remembered as a player who left behind a tremendous legacy.

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Do you think Carmelo Anthony is underrated as a player? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Tsuktibenla T Jamir

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Tsuktibenla T Jamir is an NBA author at EssentiallySports. Armed with a Masters in Journalism from the prestigious Delhi School of Journalism, this Nagaland native combines her academic prowess with her passion for the game to craft compelling narratives that bring the NBA to life. She finds immense joy in dissecting the journeys of the athletes who make the game larger than life.
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Edited by:

Anuj Jacob