“How Carmelo Anthony’s Trade to the Knicks Helped the Denver Nuggets Reach the NBA Finals”

“Melo only thinks about himself”, “he only plays for himself”… What if we told you today that the Nuggets’ place in the NBA Finals was partly linked to Carmelo Anthony? Yes yes, the one who left Colorado more than ten years ago to swing perfs at 62 points – 0 assist on the side of New York City. Far-fetched, yes. Completely wrong, no.

Already to begin, let us pay tribute to the adventure of the neo-retired on the side of Denver. A member of the legendary 2003 Draft, Melo bucketed Mile High City for eight years. In the end, collectively we are close to nothing in the Playoffs but Carmelo’s impact with the Nuggets is indelible. Four selections to the All-Star Game, as many in All-NBA Teams, and a place (threatened) on the podium of the best scorers of the franchise. Respect.

Now, the story ended badly when Melo dropped ship asking for his trade for the Knicks in the winter of 2011. A trade that, on the face of it, didn’t do Denver much. But this is where the story gets interesting. What if this transfer was not the start of everything that is currently happening to the Nuggets? In the exchange, the Colorado franchise gets a bunch of players, including Danilo Gallinari at a time when his knees leave him alone, and a few draft picks.

In the lot, a 1st round pick to swap with the Knicks in 2016.

During this Draft, the Nuggets come out of a season in 33-49, in the soft bottom of the NBA. Too bad to be good, too good to be very bad, in short we are bored in the Rockies and we have to move up a gear. Nikola Jokic is ending his rookie season and barely showing the end of his nose, we can only hope for a high pick from the Big Apple. Seventh worst record, the Knicks inherit the… pick number 7. Denver takes the opportunity to choose Jamal Murraytitular leader of the franchise for six years now and author of a magnificent Playoffs campaign this year.

Jamal may not come close to Meloman if we talk about smoothitude, and still he talks seriously, but the number 27 of the Nuggets has managed to integrate into a collective that is going to the NBA Finals. Much more complicated according to his predecessor, who preferred to leave, leaving a delayed gift to his franchise. Thanks Melo.

Carmelo Anthony trade to Knicks gave Nuggets Jamal Murray

— Nuggets Nation (@NuggetsNationCP) May 22, 2023

Since the 2016 Draft, Mile High City has built its franchise around a deadly Serbian-Canadian duo and a strong first-to-eighth man team. This is one more argument in the fight to remove Carmelo Anthony’s jersey in Denver, number 15 worn by… the Joker today. The former retired Knicks winger, the Nuggets and Jamal Murray have one last opportunity to pay tribute to his legacy on the court.

It’s up to them to finally understand who Melo is… A generous man who prefers to offer titles to winning them.