The L.A. Lakers captured their first win of the new season on Sunday, scraping by with a 121-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Interestingly, it was not LeBron, Westbrook, or AD who led the way. Instead, the star of the night was Carmelo Anthony, who dropped a season-high 28 points on 66.7% shooting.
The performance moved him up to ninth on the All-Time scoring list.
Carmelo passes Moses Malone for ninth on the NBA's all-time scoring list 🙌 pic.twitter.com/TfUwVTk9c2
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 25, 2021
It was an absolutely incredible performance by Anthony, who will turn 38 in May.
For Lakers fans especially, it was an encouraging sight. All over social media, they responded with hype and excitement about winning the game thanks to a blast from the past by Melo.
Melo doing what Melo came to do. #LakeShow
— Tito LG (@titob5o) October 25, 2021
I remember a night on this app, when people actually debated if Melo was a Hall of Famer.
— PutMeOnBlast 🇲🇽 (@YungBlastro) October 25, 2021
People really saying LeBron, Russ and AD are the “Big 3” yet Melo is the best Laker on the team?🤔 pic.twitter.com/mSKw5oydBi
— Witness 2K (@Witness2k17) October 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/geebs_fitness/status/1452485006022963200
Melo getting Hot yoooo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Damn
— wargasipil (@dimanrahman_19) October 25, 2021
Melo playing like the 2nd best player on the team rn
— 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐢 (@papyfaye1) October 25, 2021
this make me so happy
— . (@shawn_makaveli) October 25, 2021
Melo looks reinvigorated!! I hope he gets that ring
— Stielos_ Entertainment (@Stielo_Ent) October 25, 2021
It was a surprising performance and a rather dramatic one for L.A.’s first win, but Anthony has been saying all summer long how ready he is for this next chapter of his career.
“I’m really going to enjoy it,” Melo said to Adam Caparell of Complex. “I sat and talked about the loyalty and learning the business of basketball so now being in this part of my life and my career it’s like I understand it. So I’m going into it with a different mindset and type of understanding with what’s at stake. What do we have to do, what do I have to do in order to make this work? I’m looking forward to it, to be honest with you.”
With pressure mounting, this game was an important one for the Lakers. Not only did it give the Lakers a much-needed win, but it also proved that Anthony still has a lot left in the tank.
And during nights when none of the “big three” are at the top of their game, guys like Anthony are going to have to step up if the Lakers are to win.
