Carmelo Anthony Retires After 19-Year NBA Career

Carmelo Anthony officially announced his retirement from the NBA after 19 years on Monday.

According to the Associated Press, although the star forward did not participate in the NBA this season, Anthony's retirement comes with a distinguished record, placing him among the league's all-time scoring leaders.

With 28,289 points to his name, Carmelo secures the ninth spot in the scorer's league history. Only NBA legends such as LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, and Shaquille O'Neal scored more than Anthony.

In a video announcing his decision, Anthony described his retirement as "bittersweet" but expressed readiness to bid farewell to the game.

"Now the time has come for me to say goodbye... to the game that gave me purpose and pride," the NBA star said.

Anthony's impact on the sport is undeniable. As one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history, a 10-time All-Star, a former scoring champion, and a recipient of six All-NBA honors, his legacy is firmly established.

Despite falling short of an NBA Finals appearance, Anthony experienced the joy of winning throughout his career, notably reaching the conference finals once with the Denver Nuggets, where they faced the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, in 2009.

Why Can't Denver Nuggets Retire Carmelo Anthony's Jersey Yet?

While all eyes are focused on a likely NBA Finals matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat and a possible first-ever championship for the team, an undeniable truth remains: the No. 15 jersey donned by Carmelo Anthony deserves to be immortalized up in the rafters.

According to Westword, the actual uniform retirement of Denver's No. 15 uniform will take a while due to the present No. 15 wearer, Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP and a respected figure in his own right.

However, the Nuggets could still lift two No. 15 jerseys high above the fans at Ball Arena. That makes sense with Anthony's impressive background.

With his imminent induction into the NBA Hall of Fame as a first-ballot honoree, Anthony has already cemented his place as the ninth-highest scorer in the history of the NBA.

Throughout his career, he garnered the prestigious honor of being selected as an NBA All-Star 10 times and secured spots on six different All-NBA teams.

Hailing from New York and chosen as the third overall pick in the 2003 draft following an illustrious tenure at Syracuse University, Anthony orchestrated a seismic transformation for the Denver Nuggets.

The star forward has led Syracuse to an NCAA championship during his lone college season. Anthony's arrival in Denver rejuvenated the team and reshaped its image, injecting a renewed sense of purpose into a franchise that had longed for success.

Carmelo Anthony and Denver Nuggets

In the summer of 2010, the Denver Nuggets made a concerted effort to keep Carmelo Anthony on their roster for the long haul. However, it became evident that Anthony had no intentions of remaining in Denver.

The Nuggets traded Anthony to the New York Knicks in February 2011, aiming to secure valuable assets rather than risk losing him in free agency at the end of the 2010-2011 season.

The trade involved a substantial package, with Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, and multiple draft picks moving to Denver.

The trade gave the Nuggets valuable assets in exchange for a highly talented player. On the other hand, the Knicks finally acquired a true star player for their Madison Square Garden lineup.

The fact that Anthony hailed from New York and spent his early years in Brooklyn added an extra layer of appeal.

Although Anthony achieved a scoring title during his tenure in New York, he could only lead the Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs. The team faced significant challenges, including unfortunate injuries and an underperforming front office.

While parting ways with Anthony was undoubtedly a significant loss for the Nuggets, the trade gave them a valuable opportunity, including a first-round pick in the 2016 draft that allowed them to select Jamal Murray, who has since thrived as the team's starting point guard and emerged as a standout performer in the NBA postseason.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Carmelo Anthony Announces Retirement From the NBA After 19 Seasons - From ESPN