A historical and unappreciated winner or a selfish overrated who just threw a lot? • The truth about Carmelo Anthony skips from end to end, but one thing is for sure - everyone who called him a "perfect player" should eat the hat • About the aging star who ends his career with dignity, sponsored by the hottest corner on the floor

• Carmelo Anthony. A piece of road he made here

  Photo: 

  AFP

It's a story about a high schooler who could easily have jumped right into the huge money in the NBA, but chose to go to one season in college and play for a conservative coach who advocates regional defense. Still, in a historic year at a historic level in colleges he gave a huge freshman season, en route to the championship with Syracuse and the Final Four Outstanding Player Award.

But he was not selected first in the draft. It was LeBron James. He was also not elected second. So he went to poor Denver and at a tremendous 19-year-old rookie season was the key change in a team that jumped from 17 unlucky wins the season before to 43 in the first one with him, and his first playoff appearance in a decade. He was also the rookie of the month (in the West) all six months of the season, but the rookie of the season was, of course, LeBron James. Do you notice the pattern?

And somehow, even though James only led Cleveland to the playoffs in the third season, Carmelo - who did so every year in Denver - was 21 at the time to ever score 26 points per game, and was not selected to the All-Star. LeBron, of course, has already been selected for his second. In his sixth season, they put together a quality squad around Denver that reached the Western Conference finals - for the first time in more than 30 years! - But Kobe Bryant at his peak stood between Melo and a historic appearance in the NBA Finals.

Anthony. The current season started at home // Photo: AP 

Then he moved to the New York Knicks, and guess what? He also led her to the first playoffs in almost a decade, and two years later to the second round - the farthest they have come since 2000. That season was also finally the king of the baskets and even finished 3rd in the MVP election! Somehow, it was not enough for a single career choice for the top five this season. Who were there? You can guess.

Great citrus-tim players

In between and on the road he was a partner in the recovery process of the US team, until it took over the world again. Third in importance.

From there and for a decade he may have become the greatest U.S. national team player of all time. In the 08, 12 and 16 Olympics he was repeatedly one of the top scorers on a team that returned to the circus world on its way to a 0:24 balance and 3 gold medals.

But who did score a little more than him? Who did open up to him in the top five and play a little more than him? Come on, let's list them: Kobe. LeBron. Wade. And one, Kevin Durant. All in the top 15-10 greatest wingers ever.

And here we are jumping into the summer of 2020 and into the bubble games. A piece of road he made here. It included a headband and a radiant rose hairstyle. Few assists, and Cheerios. Sometimes also a little defense, and not forgetting a lack of readiness to play power forward or get off the bench. And lots and lots of mid-range shots, which are now considered a terrible sin in the league.

Anthony. Will he be able to slip Portland into the playoffs? // Photo: AP 

Add all that to the fact that he never really stood alone at the NBA summit, and that the current season started at home after not finding a team that refused to compromise on preferences and style, and you get a player that many already thought would not be seen playing in the best league in the world.

And now, at 36, when he and Portland can still make it to the playoffs - Melo suddenly sees millions on the Internet "apologizing" to him. This is a trend where masses are hitting on sin. For being called "finished." For often not appreciating a player enough that only Karim, Carl Malone, LeBron and Kobe recorded more seasons of 20 points per game from him.

So who is Carmelo Anthony, a winner and historical actor who has not received enough appreciation? Or a selfish overrated who just threw a lot in the basket? What a beauty it is to be able to claim both this and that. But maybe what can really be taken from his story is that if you have enough talent, you can insist on the things that are important to you, and still reach the end of your career when everyone is spilling over on you. In today's NBA, all it takes is to stand in the corner and snipe free threes. easy.