Former NBA Player Makes Bold Prediction Around Carmelo Anthony

COVID-19 is giving us enough time to ask all the what-ifs. What would have happened if NBA players switched teams or signed trades? What would have happened if Carmelo Anthony joined the Detroit Pistons in 2003?

The Detroit Pistons were destroying teams in the 90s. What really happened with the team in the 2003 NBA draft? The Pistons had qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous season. They played really well and their defense was so strong. The roster was packed with talent, but the upcoming draft was sort of confusing.

The 2003 NBA draft was really important. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh were selected in the same year. LeBron was the first overall pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2003 NCAA Most Outstanding Player, Melo, was a third pick for the Denver Nuggets.

The Detroit Pistons selected Darko Miličić prior to Melo. His selection triggered a rather big discussion. What would have happened if the Pistons had selected Melo?

Carmelo Anthony would have had a different faith

Rip Hamilton said that “Carmelo Anthony would have been a champion.”

Melo was one of the best players back then. He has never won a championship, but he is a 10-tim NBA All-Star. Melo was also named the NBA scoring champion in 2013. The team traded Melo to the Portland Trail Blazers and his great success needs just a title.

Melo may have joined the Pistons, and Hamilton talked about this. Hamilton talked with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on the how, “All The Smoke.”

“First of all, I think I would have played at least 20 years in the NBA.”

Rip delivered an interesting angle to the story. “If Carmelo comes to us, would the narrative have been different with LeBron James?”

King James was the rookie of the season. Melo had a fresh start. Today, LeBron has three titles and Melo has none. Truth is, LeBron had much bigger success.

“Now you bring Carmelo to us, I think the narrative would have been totally different on his career,” Hamilton added to it. “Because the thing we’ll be talking about is, Carmelo Anthony now has three championships already. Now, Melo’s thinking about, you know what, can he do this by himself?”