“I forgot about him, that’s another guy… So you know, sorry Carmelo and you know I did get into a lot of guys that fit that bill, but Carmelo Anthony no question“, despite initially forgetting to add Melo to his all-time small forwards list, Dominique Wilkins reciprocated love to the former Knicks star.

Similarly, Tyler Hansbrough, a seven-year NBA veteran, recently explained just how formidable Anthony was during their matchups. Appearing on Johnny Manziel’s podcast, Hansbrough shared, “I remember I got matched up with Carmelo, and Carmelo’s actual first step is super explosive. Like his first one-two steps—like even though he doesn’t look extremely athletic, his first couple steps are up there with about anybody at that time.” He added, “And I remember him just blowing by me real quick and just being like, ‘Dang, barely saw that.”

The two faced off 21 times in their careers, with Hansbrough’s teams winning 12 of those games. Despite that, Anthony consistently showcased his dominance, averaging 25.8 points against Hansbrough and outscoring him in 17 of their 21 matchups.

“When Carmelo got hot, he’s not passing it, and he’s going to shoot over three people,” Psycho T explained on the Glory Daze podcast that he would even foul the 10x All-Star to break his rhythm. But, it was of no use. “Carmelo Anthony was so talented, it’s hard to tell him what a bad shot is. When he gets it going, like, that was a problem. I mean, he was an issue.”

Anthony’s unmatched scoring ability and relentless offensive game left a lasting impression on his opponents, further cementing his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest scorers.

Another former NBA star also respects Carmelo Anthony’s abilities

Despite not winning a trophy, the Syracuse alum has been part of the illustrious NBA 75th Anniversary Team. One of the major reasons for that has been his 19-year-long NBA career, where the forward averaged 22.5 points per game. Just like Hansbrough, who came into the league after Melo’s debut, there was another such guy.

“Obviously my number one was Carmelo Anthony.” DeMarcus Cousins was on the Club 520 podcast, three months ago. “The way he moved with the ball like his size, the physicality, the finesse, the combination of both. You know I fell in love with it.” Openly, ‘Boogie’ has not only expressed his admiration for Melo but even called him his favorite player.

From Dominique Wilkins to DeMarcus Cousins, Tyler Hansbrough, and countless others, Carmelo Anthony’s impact has always been evident. Whether they played before him, alongside him, or shared a locker room, one thing remains consistent: the immense respect Carmelo Anthony commands is unmatched. How do you feel about the Knicks legend? Tell us in the comment section below!