When old friends get together and start swapping stories from back in the day, you just know some wild, unheard stuff is about to pop up. And when those friends happen to be Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, sitting side by side on the couch? Fans better believe that pot’s about to get stirred. That’s exactly what went down on the latest episode of 7PM in Brooklyn.

Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire go way back. They were teammates on that 2004 USA Olympic basketball squad, and from there, the bond just stuck. Over the years, these two have seen many ups and downs together, both on and off the court. Among their shared experiences, only a few are as unexpectedly hilarious as the time Amar’e turned his wellness routine into something straight out of a vineyard. Yes, wine baths. And leave it to Carmelo to make sure that particular ritual didn’t stay buried in the past.

On the latest episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, Amar’e Stoudemire opened up about his wild wellness experiments. “I went vegan for months, I tried everything,” he admitted. And while Amar’e might’ve left it at that, Carmelo wasn’t about to let him off easy. Without missing a beat, Carmelo jumped in, teasing, “Wine baths and sh–!” The whole room cracked up. Melo wasn’t done, though, he kept going, “Man, was front page of the wine baths!” And at that point, what could Amar’e do? With a grin, he owned it, “I was doing it all.”

After Carmelo put Amar’e’s wine bath secret on blast and got his nod of approval, it opened the floodgates for more questions. Like many fans watching, Rudy Gay couldn’t help but ask the obvious, “You get drunk?” Amar’e laughed it off, replying, “No, no, no.” But that answer didn’t sit right with Carmelo, who fired back, “What’s wrong with you, man?” 

I mean, who soaks in a tub of wine without at least taking a sip, right? But as wild as it sounds, Stoudemire doesn’t drink. An extremely rare phenomenon in the stardom-packed world of pro basketball. In the end, the whole room burst out laughing. And once again, it was a reminder why conversations like these are pure gold for fans. Just a bunch of legends, some untold stories, and a whole lot of good-natured roasting. Speaking of the wine story, do you know Carmelo Anthony has his share of expertise in the field?

Carmelo Anthony and his passion for wine

Carmelo Anthony’s love affair with wine started long before it became a business move. The former Denver Nuggets star wasn’t just casually sipping, he was seriously splurging. It wasn’t until one day, staring at his towering bills, that Melo realized just how much he’d invested in his passion.

“I was looking at the bills, I was spending a lot of bread on wines,” Melo admitted during the Wine & Spirits Festival Preview. “It became a crazy passion, but I also wanted to figure out how to enter this industry and make an impact in a crowded space.” And before anyone could even anticipate, he did it. Rather than just collecting bottles, Melo decided to study the craft, learn the business, and carve out his own space. In 2022, alongside Asani Swann, he officially entered the wine world. As time passed, he understood the ins and outs of the business and then took a helping hand as well. He partnered with the famed Robert Mondavi Winery to launch his second label, Ode to Soul.

But Melo wasn’t done yet. Last year, in 2024, he introduced yet another creation, the Oath of Fidelity. It’s a luxurious bottle priced at $135, crafted from premium Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre grapes. And believe me or not, every sip from this lavish bottle promises a layered, enchanting tasting experience.

Now, with his growing wine empire, Carmelo has stepped into the same serious competitive lane. As his good friend Dwyane Wade, who’s already made his mark with Wade Cellars. Yet, in Melo’s world, competition isn’t rivalry, it’s motivation. And with seasoned mentors guiding him, he’s aiming to leave his mark on an industry expected to cross the $500 billion mark soon.