Will LeBron James Be There for Close Friend Carmelo Anthony’s HOF Induction After Missing Dwyane Wade’s Statue Unveiling?

When Carmelo Anthony was announced as part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, one of the loudest cheers came from a familiar voice. LeBron James wasted no time celebrating his longtime friend and rival, posting on X in April: WELL DESERVING, MY BROTHER!!!!! SO DAMN HAPPY AND PROUD OF YOU CHAMP!!”

That message wasn’t just social media noise. Months later, James made sure his presence matched his words. He was in Springfield to watch Anthony receive basketball’s highest honor—a night that also enshrined Dwight Howard, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, and the entire 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team,” of which both James and Anthony were pillars. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin captured James in attendance, photos and all, confirming what many hoped would be the case: LeBron wouldn’t miss Melo’s moment.

Their bond runs deeper than the bright lights of a Hall of Fame stage. Drafted first and third overall in 2003, James and Anthony grew up in the league together—two phenoms whose careers would forever be linked. They clashed 46 times in the NBA, with LeBron holding the edge (30–16 overall, 8–2 in the postseason). Yet despite years of competition, their connection shifted in 2021–22, when Anthony joined James on the Los Angeles Lakers. That single season, coupled with their earlier Olympic triumph on the Redeem Team, cemented a friendship that extends beyond the hardwood.

For LeBron, being in the crowd wasn’t simply about honoring a peer—it was about celebrating a brother. And for Melo, the sight of James in the audience underscored just how far their parallel journeys have come since that legendary 2003 draft night.

LeBron’s Heartfelt Hustle: In Springfield for Melo, Online for Wade

LeBron James has long built a reputation around the league, not always in the way fans might expect. The 40-year-old forward, widely respected as one of the most supportive teammates in NBA history, has occasionally drawn attention for missing high-profile events. However, he made sure to be present this time. At Luka Doncic’s contract extension presser, where head coach JJ Redick and GM Rob Pelinka were in attendance, James was nowhere to be seen. Although he did later FaceTime the Slovenian point guard.

This isn’t the first time James has made a point of showing up for a friend. While he has missed events in the past, like Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame induction. While the exact reason wasn’t officially stated by James, multiple reports and discussions point to his son Bronny James’s cardiac arrest at the time as the likely reason. 

So this time around, he didn’t want to miss this moment. Tonight, the Lakers superstar was on hand to honor one of his oldest friends and fiercest competitors, Carmelo Anthony, as he received one of basketball’s highest honors: a Hall of Fame induction. James’s presence highlighted the depth of their friendship and his respect for a career spent at the very top of the game.