Carmelo Anthony who retired from his professional career this year as one of the top scorers in league history, once shared Olympic dressing room with legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Carmelo had played 19 seasons in the NBA and had an international career just as gilded.
Carmelo who has a rich Olympic story as he thrived alongside LeBron and Kobe in the US Olympic team, has recently related a bizarre incident that involved throwing his 2004 Olympic medal in a lake.
Carmelo Anthony admits throwing Olympic Bronze medal into a lake
Carmelo Anthony‘s admission of throwing his 2004 Olympic bronze medal into a lake remains a symbol of a turbulent chapter in his life. In 2004, Anthony found himself in an unexpected spotlight after appearing in the ‘Stop Snitching!’ video, which portrayed a wilder side of him and raised concerns about his choices and associations.
What particularly drew attention was his casual response about the medal’s whereabouts: “It’s in a lake somewhere.”, he had said.
The 2004 Olympics didn’t mark Anthony’s finest moment, with underwhelming statistics of 2.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game, shooting at less than 29% from the field.
While he did earn an Olympic medal, it was bronze, a far cry from the expected gold or silver, marking a pivotal moment in Team USA’s basketball history, which led to a renewed commitment to international success.
The player, as well as Team USA, would bounce back in the next Olympics and Carmelo Anthony does not lament the loss of his bronze medal at all.
Carmelo won Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016
Carmelo Anthony’s remarkable Olympic career saw him clinch gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016, establishing a legacy that no other male basketball player can match. As a loyal star of U.S. basketball for 14 years, Anthony would go on to secure three consecutive gold medals for Team USA, but it all started with the Bronze in Athens 2004.
His contributions to Team USA cannot be matched to any. He holds the top spot in several career categories for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. Carmelo Anthony played 31 games, scored 336 points, made 113 field goals, and attempted 262 field goals in his international career. He also had 125 rebounds. Carmelo attempted 139 three-point field goals and made 53 free throws as he also attempted 71 free throws.
Carmelo’s golden hat-trick was sealed with a convincing victory over Serbia in the final at Rio 2016, where the USA triumphed 96-66. Reflecting on his illustrious Olympic career, Anthony expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the significance of these gold medals and the pride they brought him. His remarkable achievements in international basketball further enriched his legacy as a basketball icon.
