We’ve seen Olympic Melo and Hoodie Melo. Now, Carmelo Anthony wears another hat—of course, it’s still in basketball.
Luis Scola, Pau Gasol, and Carmelo Anthony.
That trio can still give any 3x3 team a run for its money. But for now, they are focused on playing a different role in basketball.
Anthony, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and 10-time NBA All-Star, is the latest hoops icon to become 2023 FIBA World Cup global ambassador, joining fellow international hoop stars in Scola and Gasol, who formerly led Argentina and Spain, respectively.
"I’ve proudly represented the USA on the world’s largest stages, and the World Cup is the toughest competition in international basketball," Anthony said.
Melo is currently in Manila as the special guest of the game between Gilas Pilipinas and Lebanon in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers this Friday, soaking up the atmosphere that the Philippines is so famous for when it comes to basketball.
FIBA Melo, if we can call him that, is all in on his new role. But aside from taking on the mantle of global ambassador, he also shared a few tips for the competing teams.
"It's all about striking a perfect balance of personnel, talent, and having that great chemistry. I’m looking forward to supporting all the players at the World Cup this year and celebrating the sport on a global scale," he said.
Other than his Olympic gold medal and NBA All-Star appearances, Anthony’s milestones include being a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and currently ranking in the top 10 of the NBA all-time scoring list. In the 2006 FIBA World Cup in Japan, a 20-year-old Melo put on a dynamic, high-scoring display when he led USA to the podium with a third-place finish and claimed a spot in the tournament's All-Star Five.
Anthony is currently second in the all-time scoring list of Team USA with 336 points and is also second in all-time three-pointers made with 57. He also has 113 field goals made and 125 rebounds.