If there is a discussion about debut appearances, 2003 has to be a part of the conversation. This time period was when Beyoncé became a solo artist and released “Crazy in Love,” and the NBA draft class welcomed what would become two of the league’s most impactful players, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

Fast forward 20 years, and each person’s cultural standing is out of this world. However, for Anthony, an active part of his legacy has ended with announcing his retirement from professional basketball.

Carmelo Anthony was born in Brooklyn, NY, and leveraged his basketball talents to begin a collegiate career at Syracuse University. During his freshman year at the institution, Anthony became a breakout star, leading the team to its first and only to date NCAA men’s basketball tournament championship.

The collegiate stardom would translate to Anthony’s NBA career. As the third pick by the Denver Nuggets, Anthony would have a breakout rookie season, leading all first-year players in scoring with 21 points per game and becoming a unanimous NBA All-Rookie First-Team selection.

While in the league, the player affectionately known as Melo, would win three Olympic Gold medals, become a 10-time NBA All-Star, appear in 13 postseason appearances, and have a career average of 22 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.

With Carmelo Anthony’s epic NBA career, the 38-year-old has identified his legacy in his son Kiyan Anthony who is set to transfer from Christ the King High School to Long Island Lutheran, based on a Greater Long Island report. At 15 years old, Kiyan already received a basketball scholarship offer from Indiana University and Carmelo Anthony’s alma mater Syracuse University.

Carmelo Anthony has been able to amass an estimated net worth of $160 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, but his impact is not just regulated to his work on the basketball court. He’s also an established activist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.

Long-Standing Shoe Deal

At the top of his career, Anthony joined the Jordan brand with a signature shoe deal. Boardroom reports the 2003 deal brought him $3.5 million annually for six years.

According to Bleacher Report, “Jordan released 13 signature shoes for Melo before discontinuing the line in 2017.”

Capital Investment

As Anthony’s career expanded, he would join Isos Capital to launch a $750 million fund to support underserved communities while providing capital growth to a diversified group of sports teams, leagues, and related businesses.

Wine Collection

As previously reported by AfroTech, Anthony partnered with Asani Swann to launch VII(N) – The Seventh Estate. The brand also released its first vintage blend, Oath of Fidelity. Beyond Anthony’s appreciation for wine, one major business thrust is to expand the presence of Black people in the wine industry.

Media And Creativity

In honor of his New York Knicks jersey number, Anthony is behind Creative 7, a multi-platform company producing various projects spanning television, film, audio, and digital mediums.

This work in the media space is parallel to his personal lifestyle brand, STAYME7O. The brand serves as an extension of Anthony’s unique mindset to build a community and support network that generates positivity across all aspects of life.

Philanthropy and Activism

Carmelo Anthony is also a proponent of justice, advocating human and social rights. In 2020, he launched the Social Change Fund in partnership with Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. The organization addresses racial injustice by uplifting and investing in underrepresented communities of color by breaking down systemic barriers through enacting policy solutions and equity advocacy.