Syracuse Basketball: NBA title would cap off Carmelo Anthony epic career

Syracuse basketball legend Carmelo Anthony has an extensive list of accomplishments throughout his hoops career. It’s just missing one thing.

An NBA championship. The 6-foot-7 forward, one of the greatest scorers in the history of the NBA, recently began his first season with the famed Los Angeles Lakers, joining a loaded roster that includes his dear friend, superstar LeBron James, as well as pro juggernauts like Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers, which two seasons ago cut down the nets, certainly boast a line-up of veterans, although some experts might chime in that some of these players are past their prime.

We’ll have to wait and see about that. For me, I simply hope that Los Angeles can win the whole darn thing again this year, because that would further cement Anthony’s legacy as one of the NBA’s all-time greats.

Former Syracuse basketball star Carmelo Anthony eyes an NBA crown this term.

I’m not much of an expert on the NBA, as my passion is college basketball. However, I do think that Anthony already has done enough in his pro career to be considered an all-time NBA player.

But … he needs to claim a world championship, and this year’s Lakers team could put him in the best possible position to achieve that goal.

Recently, in the Lakers’ 121-118 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Anthony poured in a team-high 28 points, showing that he can still score with the best of them, even though his minutes on the court aren’t as high as in previous stanzas.

With that effort, Anthony passed Moses Malone for No. 9 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, according to an article from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Pretty remarkable stuff. And Anthony continues to compete at a high level, in this his 19th campaign in the NBA. Again, that’s exquisite.

Anthony, 37, was considered to be possibly out of the league for good a few years back. He didn’t let that adversity faze him, revitalizing his career with the Portland Trail Blazers.

"“A couple of years ago, nobody wanted him,” Lakers big man Anthony Davis said in the ESPN story. “He was counted out. Doubted. And he stayed the course. Stayed a professional and got a shot in Portland. Made a name for himself again. And he’s here now and doing the same thing, picking up where he left off. It’s an honor to have him on our team, an honor to play beside him.”"

Recently named to the NBA’s 75th-anniversary team, Anthony has been invited to many NBA All-Star games. He’s an All-NBA player. He’s won an NBA scoring title.

He’s perhaps the greatest men’s basketball player in Olympics history, winning several gold medals with USA Basketball. Oh, and of course as a freshman in college, he led Syracuse basketball to its only national championship in 2003.

Like I’ve said a handful of times now, Anthony’s hoops career is highly decorated. There’s merely one more thing to add to the resume. I hope that occurs with the Lakers this season.