Senate Resolution No. 1119

BY: Senator BAILEY

CONGRATULATING Carmelo Anthony, a true basketball
icon, upon the occasion of his retirement after a
renowned 19-year NBA career

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
just tribute to those prominent individuals whose esteemed careers in
athletics and contributions to the game of basketball have evolved the
nature of the game, greatly contributing to the enrichment of their
community and the world, and to pay homage to a man whose unprecedented
success and athletic achievement inspires us all; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
congratulate Carmelo Anthony upon the occasion of his retirement after a
renowned 19-year NBA career; and

WHEREAS, Carmelo Anthony, the star forward who led Syracuse
University to an NCAA championship in his lone college season and went
on to spend 19 years in the NBA, announced his retirement on Monday, May
22, 2023; he retires as the No. 9 scorer in league history with 28,289
total points; and

WHEREAS, With a legacy which has long been secure, Carmelo Anthony
ends his playing days after being selected as one of the 75 greatest
players in NBA history, a 10-time All-Star, a past scoring champion and
a six-time All-NBA selection; and

WHEREAS, Named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2003 Final Four
when he led Syracuse to the national championship, Carmelo Anthony was
selected as the third overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Denver
Nuggets where he immediately demonstrated his prowess for scoring; his
elite footwork, burly physique and quick release on his jumper from
anywhere on the court made him impossible to guard; and

WHEREAS, In his rookie year, Carmelo Anthony started in all 82
regular-season games, posting an average of 36.5 minutes playing time
per game; he also averaged 21 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2
steals per game that season; and

WHEREAS, Carmelo Anthony continued to improve his game performance,
averaging 28.9 points per game in the 2006-07 season, and becoming the
second youngest player in NBA history to score 5,000 points; and

WHEREAS, One of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, Carmelo
Anthony averaged 22.5 points in his 19 seasons, spending the bulk of
those years with Denver and the New York Knicks; he spent his first
seven and a half NBA seasons in Denver, becoming the third-leading
scorer in franchise history; his Nuggets teams had seven consecutive
winning seasons and earned seven playoff berths; and

WHEREAS, Carmelo Anthony has long raved about his time with the New
York Knicks, and what it was like playing in The Mecca, especially as a
kid who was born in Brooklyn; he was the NBA's leading scorer with 28.7

points per game in 2012-13, when he guided the Knicks to the second-best
record in the Eastern Conference, winning 54 games and the Atlantic
Division title; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Carmelo Anthony provided many memorable
performances at Madison Square Garden, including a game in 2014 in which
he scored 62 points, a franchise record; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Carmelo Anthony also played for
Portland, Oklahoma City, Houston, and ended his career with the Lakers;
and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Carmelo Anthony is one of the ambassadors to
the Basketball World Cup, FIBA's biggest event, which will be held this
summer in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia; and

WHEREAS, A true American basketball legend and the most-decorated
American men's Olympic basketball player of all time, Carmelo Anthony
played in 31 games during four appearances at the Olympics, the most of
any U.S. men's player ever; his 37 points against Nigeria in the 2012
games is a USA Basketball men's record at an Olympics, as are his 10
three-pointers from that game, and his 13-for-13 effort from the foul
line against Argentina in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Carmelo Anthony's work ethic and commitment to excellence
has enabled his influence to extend beyond the realm of basketball;
among his many benevolent endeavors, he formed a philanthropic
investment fund in 2020 to invest in communities of color, as well as to
push for causes like changes to the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, While he is passionate about many things, above all Carmelo
Anthony's greatest passion is not his feats on the court, but rather his
son Kiyan, a highly rated high school shooting guard, who remains his
greatest legacy; and

WHEREAS, A man of colossal talent, Carmelo Anthony's passion and
dedication to the game of basketball leaves an indelible legacy of
inspiration to his countless fans and all who aspire to greatness; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Carmelo Anthony, a true basketball icon, upon the occasion
of his retirement after a renowned 19-year NBA career; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Carmelo Anthony.