Carmelo Anthony Paid Hefty Price for Choosing $80 Million Contract Over LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Stephen A. Smith Claims
Follow Us
One would not expect a player of Carmelo Anthony’s caliber to remain deprived of an NBA championship. Anthony retired from the NBA as the ninth-highest scorer. However, apart from Karl Malone, he is the only player among the top 10 to not have even a single ring. But could this have been changed? What would have been the scenario had Melo ended up with his buddies LeBron James and Dwayne Wade in Miami in 2010? Stephen A. Smith, who covered the 2010 NBA Free Agency extensively, expressed his opinion of this possibility.
“We all know if that brother (Carmelo Anthony) was with Dwayne and LeBron, he’d have had at least those two and probably three of the four [NBA championships],” Smith stated on the Drink Champs podcast. Stephen A. earlier mentioned on the podcast that it was not Chris Bosh but Carmelo Anthony who was supposed to be with LeBron and Wade. And Melo paid the hefty price of not cementing his legacy with a Championship due to his decision a few years before that.
When these 2003 Draft Class stars signed their first extensions, they made sure to sign a similar contract to leave themselves a chance of teaming up in the future. Wade, LeBron, and Bosh all signed 4-year extensions with an option to opt out after the third year. All three of them decided to choose that option and became free agents in 2010. However, Anthony took a different route.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Melo signed a 5-year, $80 million contract with the Nuggets because of a sense of security. This restricted him from becoming a free agent in 2010. So Wade, LeBron, and Bosh formed the famed Heatles trio that made 4 straight Finals appearances, winning twice.
Melo, on the other hand, was soon traded to the New York Knicks, where he regularly faced the Miami team he was supposed to be a part of. The best that the Knicks team could do was a Conference Semis appearance during Melo’s six-year stay in the Big Apple. He bounced around the league after that, eventually retiring in 2023 without a ring. While Melo did get to team up with Bron later on, it came too late.
Appearing on the podcast, Smith stated no matter what any of the players say now, Melo had accepted in a one-on-one interview with him the true reason. In the interview from 2019, Melo faced this exact question of not joining LeBron and Wade in Miami.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Carmelo Anthony regretted signing a 5-year contract in 2006
“Immaturity, growth from that situation… And still having this street mentality of, ‘I’m not leaving no money on the table.’ I didn’t truly understand there was going to be a lockout and what the lockout meant at that point in time. I loved Denver. I wanted to be in Denver, I wasn’t ready to leave Denver,” Carmelo Anthony said during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take in 2019.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Melo stated during the interview that he had discussions with LeBron and D-Wade. And he was suggested to take a three-year deal rather than five. “I didn’t know what it meant to take a three-year deal as opposed to a five-year deal. I’m not looking at, ‘I’m not leaving two year’s worth of this money on the table,'” Anthony said.
Trending
Bronny in Deep Waters as $800,000 Suffering Forces LeBron James’ Son to End College Career With Major Declining Numbers
April 27, 2024 01:45 PM EDT
Bronny’s Suffering Doesn’t Affect Brother Bryce as LeBron James’ Younger Son Sees Stability Financially
April 28, 2024 02:24 PM EDT
LeBron James Raids Wife Savannah’s Wardrobe For Game 4 Win, Leaving 35YO Stylist “Weak”
April 28, 2024 07:16 PM EDT
Nike EYBL: Emotional Kiyan Anthony Talks About Father Carmelo While Bryce James Hails 17YO Brodie
April 28, 2024 04:08 PM EDT
“That Was Too Much”: LeBron Gave Bryce James a Tough Pill to Swallow 1 Week Before His Nike EYBL Game
April 29, 2024 02:32 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Melo is a 10x All-Star, 3x Olympic Gold medallist, and part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team among various individual achievements. There are very few players in NBA history who have such a decorated resume. Yet, the one accolade that matters the most is missing. Melo’s legacy shouldn’t be defined by that, though.
Edited by:
Pragya Vashisth