Before the triple-double era of Nikola Jokić, it was a different #15 who ruled the hearts of the Mile High City. With the Denver Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony established himself as a rookie who could take the keys of a franchise. Representing the Powdered Blue, he would lead them to the playoffs every year from 2004 to 2010. Facing Melo was not a simple task, but it only got worse once Allen Iverson arrived, as per a former player turned analyst.

The partnership of Anthony and Iverson was short but electric. Having two great scorers would instill fear in any player. That’s what Lou Williams experienced. “And from my personal experience, the only game that I can really reference being physically worried and scared to play in was the first time that I played against Carmelo Anthony when they traded for Allen Iverson, having both of them guys in a Denver Nuggets uniform. I was like, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to go about this game.‘”

On Run It Back, the former 3x Sixth Man of the Year detailed why the AI-Melo partnership was tough to guard against. “Like those were two guys that really put fear in my heart in my third year as a pro, you know, so that to me is what stands out.” Williams is not wrong. Statistically, Iverson and Anthony were unstoppable on the floor. In the 2007–08 season, the guard from Georgetown University averaged 26.4 points per game, ranking third in the league. Anthony was right behind him at 25.7 points, fourth overall.

So, despite being a fan of Melo, Williams had scary thoughts about the matchup. “But being a young puppy in the league, seeing Carmelo Anthony in that baby blue and gold, in that yellow, it was a scary sight to see. And I was one of the Melos biggest fans. I had a throwback Carmelo Anthony Syracuse jersey. I had his first pair of shoes, the Jordans that came out, like there was no bigger fan of Carmelo Anthony than Lou Will at that time. And so when I actually had the first few opportunities to compete against him, my eyes were this big and I was physically scared.”

The Iverson-Anthony duo averaged 26 points per game in the 2007-08 season. This partnership was also fruitful for Carmelo Anthony on an individual level. The 10x All-Star had his highest-scoring regular season in 2006-07, the season when Iverson donned the Nuggets jersey for the first time. The influence was not limited to hardwood. In the shortest span, the two stars created a bond of a lifetime.

Carmelo Anthony on Allen Iverson’s impact

“When AI came, he took it to whole another level…We came together, and then the way we were moving; it wasn’t just we were rock stars like the Beatles.” On his podcast, the Syracuse legend described the electrifying nature of the partnership. Even veteran NBA reporter Marc J. Spears, who was covering the team during those years. “It was like traveling with a rock band… There was always a lot more women in the crowd for their games,” Spears said on The OGs with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.

Whether it was their individual charisma or the way they fed off each other on the floor, their partnership had a magnetic pull. It was all a natural connection. “He [Iverson] was the only one I could look up to because I felt like he was the only one who understood my dynamics and what I was dealing with and what I was going through and still have to be someone of elite on a daily basis.” Once, Carmelo Anthony detailed his feelings of having AI as his idol. Iverson brought flash and fearlessness; Melo brought smooth dominance. Together, they became one of the era’s most entertaining duos.

Despite two scorers on the team, the partnership didn’t hinder their personal scoring. To this day, their bond remains strong, as AI is even paying close attention and hyping the next Anthony, Kiyan, as he begins his journey with Syracuse. Not to forget, Iverson was also one of the HoF presenters as Carmelo Anthony received his first ballot enshrinement.