When it comes to the endgame, Carmelo Anthony is letting LeBron James face that moment alone. They’ve shared the court, spotlight, and twenty years of NBA history, entering the league together. Now, the two are in very different phases of their basketball journeys. LeBron is still battling Father Time in LA, while Melo has retired and now works as an analyst for NBC, which might have given him perspective on what LeBron might be feeling now.

Recently, Anthony was interviewed on CNBC and revealed some insights. “I know it’s a very sensitive time,” Carmelo said when asked if he’s spoken to LeBron about post-basketball life. “You’re battling the love and the passion and everything that you have for the game, and you’re also battling, hey, family, and you know it’s coming to an end. I try not to kind of talk about that and allow him to just be him and do what he do.”

His tone was filled with understanding. Melo’s been through the same emotional tug-of-war and knows the uneasy balance between holding onto what made you great and stepping away from it when you know you’re over the hill.

The Hall of Famer called it a ‘seesaw,’ a fitting metaphor for the internal conflict that every athlete must face. The struggle stops being physical, instead becoming psychological. For Melo, that period after the NBA wasn’t just an adjustment, but a kind of re-awakening. For LeBron, it’s still ahead, and his friend knows that any advice, regardless of how well-meaning it may be, will only cloud his judgment.

Instead, Melo is choosing silence, not out of avoidance, but respect. “I try not to kind of put that, you know, kind of just talk about that and allow him to just be him and do what he do, and try to figure this out with him and his family.” In a world where everyone seems eager to comment on LeBron’s timeline, Anthony’s refusal to offer guidance is a genuine act of brotherhood as he lets the legend write his own ending.

Carmelo Anthony Opens Up on LeBron James’ Future

This isn’t the first time Carmelo Anthony has talked about LeBron James‘ longevity. Recently, following LeBron’s ‘Second Decision’ promotion, Anthony dropped his take on the Lakers forward’s basketball future, and commented on what he thinks would be a perfect final chapter for James.

“He should end his years with the Lakers,” Anthony said. “You’re talking about somebody who wants to win championships, and he wants to be put into the right position to win it. It’s a lot of talk around him, surrounding him, and surrounding the Lakers, like it is every single year. He’s just going to go out there and play.” At 41, James is still a dominant player in the NBA, but has been sidelined by a case of sciatica to start the season. For the time being, the Lakers are looking to turn the dynamic duo of James and Luka Doncic into an NBA championship, at least before LeBron inevitably announces his retirement.

Still, Melo hasn’t lost his sense of humor about it. During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he joked that LeBron might as well, “come on over to this side,” adding, “For me to be entering the Hall of Fame, and for him to, you know, hopefully get his a– up out of there… Enough is enough. Give it a break!” It was classic Carmelo: half-joking, half-truthful. After all, the two have been linked since their teenage years, and even as one is now enshrined in the Hall of Fame, the other keeps rewriting records on the court.