Carmelo Anthony at Peace With Olympic Gold and No NBA Title

Carmelo Anthony is arguably the greatest international hoops player in USA Basketball’s history, and says he’s secure in his legacy even if it may not ultimately include an NBA championship.

Anthony, 32, is seeking his third Olympic gold medal this summer.

Melo recently moved past LeBron James as Team USA’s all-time leading scorer.

Per ESPN:

“Most athletes don’t have an opportunity to say that they won a gold medal, better yet three gold medals,” Anthony said. “I would be very happy walking away from the game knowing that I’ve given the game everything I have, knowing I played on a high level at every level: high school, college, won [a championship at Syracuse] in college and possibly three gold medals.

 

“I can look back on it when my career is over — if I don’t have an NBA championship ring — and say I had a great career.”

 

A 13-year NBA veteran who has starred for the Knicks for the past six seasons, Anthony won gold with the United States in 2008 and 2012 after a disappointing bronze medal in 2004. […] “Of course, because we play in the NBA that’s always the goal: to win an NBA championship,” Anthony said. “But every year [there’s] a new champion, so you have an opportunity to compete for a championship every year. This is every four years.”