Carmelo Anthony officially retires after 19-year NBA career

He revealed the decision on Monday via social media, saying in a video filled with his career highlights that "the time has come to say goodbye."

The third overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets, Anthony scored 28,289 points over 19 seasons. He didn’t play this past season, last playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22.

One of the most prolific scorers in league history, Anthony led the NBA in scoring in 2012-13 with an average of 28.7 points per game, and finished in the top 10 in scoring in nine seasons.

Anthony, who turns 39 years old next Monday, was selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and was named to the All-NBA second team twice and All-NBA third team four times.

10x NBA All-Star, 6x All-NBA selection, 9th most points all-time and 75th Anniversary Team member…Thank you, Carmelo! pic.twitter.com/Z3uRXCB5Xh

— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2023

He spent his first seven seasons in Denver, helping the Nuggets to the playoffs each year – including a berth in the Western Conference finals in 2009.

During the 2010-11 season, he was traded to the New York Knicks, and helped guide them to three playoff berths during his six-plus seasons there.

Following his last season with the Knicks in 2016-17, Anthony bounced around from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers before finishing up with the Lakers.

He concludes his NBA career with averages of 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 1,260 games.

"It’s a bittersweet goodbye to the NBA," Anthony said. "I am excited about what the future holds for me."

In addition to his success in the NBA, Anthony also led Syracuse to an NCAA championship as a freshman in 2003 and helped USA Basketball win three Olympic gold medals – at Beijing in 2008, at London in 2012 and at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

His 31 Olympic basketball games played are the most for any American man, and his 37 points scored in a 2012 game against Nigeria are also a USA Basketball men’s Olympic record.

"People ask what I believe my legacy is," Anthony said. "It’s not my feats on the court that come to mind, all the awards or praise. Because my story has always been more than basketball.