10-time NBA all-star Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement from professional basketball earlier this week, but didn’t come without interest in him returning to the hardwood.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on his Substack that the 38-year-old Anthony received interest in Europe, but would not return to play unless it was for another NBA opportunity.
“League sources say Carmelo Anthony did receive some top-level European interest this season, but decided that he wasn’t going to play anywhere else unless the offer came from the NBA,” Stein wrote.
In addition to winning a national championship in his only season at Syracuse, Anthony spent 19 seasons in the NBA playing for the Nuggets, Knicks, Thunder, Rockets, Trail Blazers and Lakers. He was named to six All-NBA teams in his career and is ninth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list at 28,289 points scored.
While Anthony didn’t win a title, he amassed quite the career in the NBA to go along with his legendary FIBA basketball career. He was a part of three Olympic gold medal teams in 2008, 2012 and 2016 and his 37 points scored against Nigeria in 2012 remains the USA Basketball record for most points scored in an Olympic game.
