Often regarded as one of the most prolific scorers of his generation, Carmelo Anthony’s NBA legacy is deeply tied to both the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. Drafted third overall by Denver in 2003, he immediately made an impact, leading all rookies in scoring that year. In 2011, Anthony was traded to New York, where he became the face of the franchise, finishing as the Knicks’ seventh all-time leading scorer with 10,186 points, and claiming the 2013 NBA scoring title!

Yet despite this storied history, Anthony recently made a claim that left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads and reignited debates about where his “best year” really came.

“In all honesty, my best year that I’ve ever had was with the Lakers. When you look at the numbers and the efficiency and field goal percent, we’re in a game of numbers now and analytics, so if you look at analytics, the Lakers’ year was one of my best years out of 19 seasons,” Anthony revealed during an appearance on the CTRL Your Narrative podcast.

No matter his feelings, Anthony’s dominance in both Denver and New York cemented him as a player capable of transforming a franchise. In Denver, he helped the Nuggets reach the playoffs seven straight seasons. He also became an All-NBA selection four times and twice finished in the top five in league scoring, reviving a team that had missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons.

In New York, the guy from Brooklyn averaged 24.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over 412 games, proving himself both a scorer and a consistent leader. His impact on both franchises was undeniable, leaving fans with little doubt about where his prime years truly belonged.

On the other hand, Anthony’s stint in Los Angeles was brief, spanning only a single season before his retirement. While his statistical efficiency with the Lakers may have been impressive, it stands in stark contrast to the years of dominance, consistency, and franchise-defining performances he delivered with the Nuggets and Knicks. And the reason why it has shocked many who associate his peak with Denver and New York.

Fans shrug off Carmelo Anthony’s audacious claim

Carmelo Anthony’s claim that his best NBA season came with the Lakers left many fans baffled, especially those who followed his prime years with Denver and New York. One fan captured the sentiment plainly: “Denver and Knicks was your best.” Indeed, Anthony spent seven full seasons with Denver, leading them to two division titles and a trip to the 2009 Western Conference Finals, before becoming the face of the New York Knicks.

Another fan suggested Anthony’s statement was more about analytics than performance: “I feel like he’s saying this to show how analytics aren’t the perfect measure for talent. Obviously he was better on other teams, but analytics say otherwise.” This reflects Anthony’s own comments on efficiency and metrics, as his one season with the Lakers may have been statistically efficient but lacked the sustained impact and scoring output he had over the years with the Nuggets and Knicks.

Some fans even crunched the numbers themselves. “Man if you ask AI what his top 3 best years are in the NBA analytically, it was the 12-13 Knicks, 13-14 Knicks, and 09-10 Nuggets—somebody get that glass out his hand 😂.” These seasons correspond to Anthony’s peak scoring years, including his 2012/13 scoring title with New York and top-five league finishes in Denver, highlighting that his greatest impact came when he consistently produced at the highest level over multiple seasons.

Knicks supporters were especially vocal, taking the omission of New York personally. “And Knicks wants to retire his jersey 🤡🤡🤡🤡,” one fan joked, pointing to the irony of Anthony being celebrated as a franchise icon while claiming his best year was elsewhere. It underscores how deeply his legacy is tied to New York, where he averaged 24.7 points per game over seven seasons.

Finally, some fans stressed the limits of analytics in capturing true impact: “This is why analytics doesn’t work imo, at a certain point the sheer output outweighs the efficiency. Sure he may have been more efficient on the Lakers, but scoring 20 less ppg makes a HUGE difference in terms of impact on winning, which everybody would most likely agree with. I understand this is a pretty extreme example, but I believe that it translates even in less glaring examples.” Anthony’s Lakers season may have been efficient, but it cannot match the decades of dominance, leadership, and scoring prowess he displayed in Denver and New York.

Well, what do you think about Carmelo Anthony’s claims? Did he really shine during his time with the LA Lakers? Let us know in the comments down below.