Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James are two of the best friends in the NBA. Their friendship started when they were teenagers, and nothing has changed since that moment. Melo and Bron were always pitted against each other, given their status as promising prospects, but the pair were always very close.
They clashed on the court at a very young age, with Bron stealing the show against Anthony’s Oak Hill Academy. After that, Carmelo decided it was time to meet LeBron and know the person behind the young star that constantly made headlines.
Talking with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on Showtime’s ‘All the Smoke,’ Melo explained how he took that first step to meet one of his closest friends (18:47).
“When I get to Oak, LeBron happened to be in Oak the previous year. I’m like, I gotta play against him, it’s in the schedule. We gotta make it happen…”
In 2002, Anthony spoke with James and found out they had a lot in common. Their backgrounds were very similar, which made the connection easy.
“We get the jersey, we get to the prime-time shootout and we come in the hotel, and… he… you Melo? Yeah! It was All-Star weekend in Philly too. And we sat on the steps for hours the night before that game. I don’t know nothing about you doug, you don’t know nothing about me.”
“We clicked in after that moment, we just felt like we’re from similar backgrounds, similar home, broken family, grown up in the hood. So we connected for that, before basketball. I was looking for that type of relationship… brotherhood.”
The rest, as you may know now, is history. Melo and Bron have a deep bond, and they’re part of the famous ‘Banana Boat Crew’ alongside Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade.
Their relationship only got better after that point. James even saved Anthony’s life once, improving their relationship.
Now they’re getting ready to share touches in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers. After 18 years in the association, these two will finally play together, trying to bring the 18th NBA championship to the Staples Center.
