Kevin Durant and James Harden Were Tougher Than Carmelo Anthony, as Per Ex-Lakers Star

Published 01/12/2024, 11:00 AM EST

During the 2012–13 NBA season, Carmelo Anthony showed everyone that he was one of the best players in the NBA. He instilled fear in his opponents and led the league in scoring that year. Although his scoring prowess was extraordinary for his time, NBA veteran Wesley Matthews does not believe that the New York Knicks legend had the toughest matchup he ever had.

Matthews was one of the best wing defenders in the NBA during his prime. This led to him often facing off against the best offensive players in the NBA, like Kevin Durant and James Harden.

When asked if Carmelo Anthony was his toughest match-up ever, Wesley Matthews said, “I can’t say that. He was up there, though. I mean, I got prime KD; I had James (Harden). But Melo, though, that’s what he do. He scores,” during a recent episode of Club 520 Podcast.

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Matthews has faced Harden and Durant in their prime. And for everyone who has seen how great they are on the court, it is understandable why Matthews would place them above Anthony as a tougher match-up. While Carmelo Anthony could score against anyone in a one-on-one matchup, Durant and Harden could tear down an entire team’s defensive schemes.

During his prime, James Harden was a 40-point triple-double threat every night. Durant is a four-time scoring champion. Both of them have won the MVP award in their best season, while Anthony has never won it in his career.

Was Carmelo Anthony better than Kevin Durant and James Harden?

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While Carmelo Anthony was one of the best pure scorers in NBA history, he pales in comparison to what Kevin Durant and James Harden have done in basketball. Anthony was one-dimensional. He was not a great passer of the ball and only averaged more than four assists in his career. On the other hand, both Harden and Durant are exceptional passers, which leads to them helping their team more.

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Although Carmelo Anthony is known for his scoring, both Durant and Harden are set to overtake Anthony on the all-time scoring list in the future if they continue their current trajectory.

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Who do you think is a tougher match-up for defenders in the NBA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by:

I did not follow the traditional route to become a journalist, but my love for basketball and writing has brought me here. Seeing LeBron James? Cleveland Cavaliers make the iconic comeback from a 1-3 deficit in 2016 changed everything for a young engineering aspirant within me. Rather than simply looking at the game, I love to analyze how each player contributes to a team using BPM (Box Plus Minus) and other advanced metrics.

Edited by:

Riya Singhal

Kevin Durant and James Harden Were Tougher Than Carmelo Anthony, as Per Ex-Lakers Star

Was Carmelo Anthony better than Kevin Durant and James Harden?

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