Carmelo Anthony has established himself as one of the greatest NBA players of his generation. Though he never won a championship, Melo has achieved numerous accolades, including 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title, and an Olympic gold medal.
However, Anthony wants the world to see him and his NBA peers as more than just basketball legends. In fact, he once voiced his disappointment in being recognized solely for their athletic achievements, emphasizing that there is much more to their identity.
"You can't be one-dimensional. So, for me, I hate it when they say, 'Oh, you're an athlete or you're a basketball player.' Don't put me in a category because culture is not just one category. It's broad. It touches different lanes. It touches different genres," Anthony told Complex last year.
"You have so many different dimensions to you," he pointed out. "I think the surprising part about it is that people don't know that. So they just want you to be a basketball player until they see you doing something different and they see no otherwise, right? Sometimes, we just got to let people graduate."
Melo has always been viewed as one-dimensional
Anthony is officially retired, but he has always been dismayed by how people viewed him, even during his playing years in the NBA. Known for his versatile scoring, Melo gained both fans and critics.
Many tagged Anthony's game as one-dimensional as they believed the All-Star forward couldn't excel in other facets of the game besides scoring. For the Knicks icon, some people just enjoyed discrediting his expertise but knew nothing about the work he had to put in to be the player he was.
"You get shaded for doing what the game is supposed to be done, which is to get a bucket. So when you do it at a high level, you get shaded. People say, 'Oh, he can only score' I don't give a f*ck, yes! I mastered this sh*t," Melo once said in his podcast.
Related: LeBron addresses the controversy over new basketballs following JJ Redick's complaint: "It's only odd if you ain't a hooper"
Melo is more than just a retired NBA star
Indeed, Anthony was on point with his take on his legacy, as many are unaware that the retired forward's impact extends beyond basketball. Apart from being an NBA legend, Melo has also been doing some charity work with his "Carmelo Anthony Foundation," which aims to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth in impoverished areas.
Carmelo has also embarked on various business ventures. He has partnered with 1800 Tequila and launched the Grand National Agency and StayMe70 Cannabis brand this year, staying active well beyond his playing years.
Related: "When I played with LeBron, it's actually like the opposite of Carmelo Anthony" - Iman Shumpert on the difference between playing with LeBron and Carmelo