Even though Kevin Durant is entering year 17 of his career, at one point, the legendary forward was just a rookie with the Seattle SuperSonics. Like other rookies, Durant had to adjust to the NBA, and once, he opened up on who gave him his “welcome to the NBA” moment.
When speaking on the Knucklheads podcast, Durant revealed that Carmelo Anthony was the player that gave him trouble during his rookie season.
“[Denver] Melo. He was just physical. He would duck you in the paint and hit you with the shoulder. Then he’d take you out. Jab, jab, pull over top of you… You want to be physical but you don’t… He would have me thinking too much on defense. We had a back-to-back that night. I got on the plane confused.”
There is no doubt that Carmelo Anthony was one of the most gifted scorers the game has ever seen, and he had a perfect blend of bully ball and skill. It is easy to see why Durant struggled to guard him as a rookie, and it is fair to say Anthony was unstoppable in his prime one-on-one.
Kevin Durant’s rookie season was in 2008, and there’s no doubt that Carmelo Anthony had a stellar year then. Anthony averaged 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 35.4% from 3PT range. He led the Nuggets to a 50-32 record and made the playoffs, but was unfortunately swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
Some Believe That Carmelo Anthony Is A Top 15 Player To Ever Play Basketball
There is no doubt that a lot of players respect what Carmelo Anthony was able to do on the court from a skill perspective. In fact, Will Barton once suggested that Carmelo Anthony is one of the 15 greatest players of all time if one only uses the eye test and takes resumes out of the equation.
“Crazy handle, mid-range shooting, getting to the rim, first step was quick,” Barton said. “If we going off just eye test of basketball, it ain’t 15 other guys that I’ve ever seen that were better than him.”
A lot of fans will likely disagree with Barton’s take on Anthony, as they tend to place value on awards and accomplishments in the league. However, it is clear that Anthony was supremely skilled, and garnered the respect of a lot of his peers throughout his time in the league.
Carmelo Anthony Accomplished A Lot In The League
Even though he never won a championship in the league, there is no doubt that Carmelo Anthony is one of the greats. He is a legend for both the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks and should have his jersey retired by both franchises.
On an individual level, Carmelo Anthony managed to make 10 All-Star appearances and six All-NBA teams. He also won the 2013 scoring title with the Knicks, averaging 28.7 points per game. During his time with the Nuggets, he managed to make the Western Conference Finals as well, showing that he can play winning basketball.
Carmelo Anthony was recognized by the league, and selected to the NBA 75 list. There is no doubt that his legacy is forever set in stone, and Anthony has admirers from across the globe even today.
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