(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Carmelo Anthony made a name for himself in the NBA and is still considered a basketball legend.
But he wouldn’t have the career he did if it weren’t for the heroes and influences who came before him.
Speaking on “7PM in Brooklyn,” Anthony told Paul George that he would “catch heat” for his biggest NBA influences growing up.
He said that Bernard King and Vince Carter were the two stars who impacted him the most.
Many people might be upset to hear Anthony choose those two over someone like Michael Jordan, but he knows who had the biggest influence on him.
Melo’s favorite players coming up? Bernard King and Vince Carter pic.twitter.com/kpnh0i604G
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) August 2, 2024
You can see the ways that King and Carter rubbed off on Anthony.
In fact, Carter shared the same jersey number as Carter and also wore a headband similar to his.
King was a big part of the NBA for 14 years, earning four All-Star appearances, a scoring championship in the mid-80s, and a Hall of Fame selection.
But he is not talked about in the ways that Jordan, Magic Johnson and others are.
It seems that when a player is asked about their biggest influences, they have to select from a very short list that features Jordan, Larry Bird, Bill Russell and a few other names.
However, Anthony is proud of the people who have inspired him the most, no matter where they stand in the history books.
It ultimately doesn’t matter who influenced Anthony the most.
The bottom line is that he became a legitimate NBA icon in his own right and ended up inspiring others too.
The post Carmelo Anthony Would ‘Catch Heat’ For His Favorite Player Growing Up appeared first on The Cold Wire.