On Saturday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honored Carmelo Anthony by inducting him into their exclusive institution in Springfield, Massachusetts. Anthony, nicknamed "Melo" by NBA fans, is a member of the 2025 Hall of Fame class alongside Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Billy Donovan. Anthony was enshrined a second time, as he was also inducted as a member of the 2008 USA Men’s Basketball “Redeem Team.”

“So when they ask you, where does greatness come from? Tell them it starts in the dirt,” he said during his induction speech. “It starts in the dark. Starts with a whisper that says I would not be denied.”

Anthony, 41, played 19 years in the NBA, seven and a half of which were spent with the New York Knicks. Melo is considered a sports icon in the Big Apple because of the enthusiasm and passion he displayed on the court throughout every game.

The Knicks showed their respect for Melo throughout this week by posting multiple videos and photos of him on their social media accounts. But if New York really wants to make Anthony feel like the legend he is, they should retire his jersey soon.

I can’t be the only fan to come up with this idea because they don’t have anyone wearing No. 7 or another all-time great player to retire. Furthermore, Anthony is a fan favorite due to leading the Knicks to three consecutive playoff appearances and making six straight All-Star games.

“To the New York Knicks, the city of New York, and Mecca of basketball, you gave me more than a jersey,” Anthony stated during his speech as the crowd cheered. “You gave me an identity. From the lights of Madison Square Garden to the heartbeat of every borough, I felt that energy and carried it. I became it.”

“New York is not for the heart; it’s pressure, expectations, but also pride, power, and emotion. You showed me what it means to put me on your back with grace, grit, and love.” 

Due to scoring 62 points in a 2014 regular-season game against the Charlotte Bobcats, Melo also holds the record for the most points scored in a single game by a Knick. He scored 10,186 points in New York, ranking seventh on the franchise's all-time points list.

Anthony ranks third on the Knicks' all-time three-pointer list and 10th in field goals. 

“To the fans, your passion never wavers even when things get tough, your fire lit up every part of the Garden,” his speech continued. “Every chant, roar, move, and moment we felt it. I felt it. To the Knicks organization, thank you for believing in me and trusting me to lead the city that never sleeps.”

After playing his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22, Anthony continued to support the Knicks. He sat courtside for multiple playoff games during the past two seasons, as the Knicks attempted to do the one thing he never did: bring an NBA title back to New York.

The Knicks' last championship came in 1973, and the farthest Anthony led them was the Eastern Conference semifinals. But everything he’s done for the New York sports scene speaks for itself.

Now it’s up to the Knicks to hang Melo’s No. 7 up in the rafters of the world-famous Madison Square Garden.

“Thank you for believing in me,” he said as he concluded his Hall of Fame speech. “Thank you for walking with me. We are in the hall now, champ, and we are just getting started. When in doubt, stay Melo.”