MELO WORLD

FROM WINE TO FASHION, MEDIA TO PHILANTHROPY, NBA LEGEND CARMELO ANTHONY SCORES IN MULTIPLE ARENAS

- STORY BY DANIEL-YAW MILLER PORTRAIT BY RANDALL SLAVIN

Carmelo Anthony is a man on the go. In a very literal sense, he is speaking with me over the phone as the car he's in navigates the hectic rush-hour traffic of New York, the city in which he made his name. More figuratively, Anthony—or Melo, as he's affectionately known in the world of basketball—is navigating another journey as a true multihyphenate in the world of business, two years on from stepping away from an illustrious career laden with accolades.

There were his 10 NBA All-Star selections between 2007 and 2017, as well as three Olympic gold medals for Team USA in Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro. He retired with more than 28,000 NBA career points, cementing his legacy as one of the deadliest shooters that the NBA has ever seen. His cultural impact, too, was unmatched. He was the first signature athlete signed to Nike's Jordan brand to develop his own sneaker line since MJ himself. Anthony, who entered the league in 2003 as part of a legendary draft class that also featured LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, was undoubtedly among a crop of generational talents who changed the face of the sport forever.

These achievements are set to be honored in no uncertain terms. Anthony will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on not one but two counts: first in his individual capacity, and also as a member of the 2008 “Redeem Team” that won gold at the 2008 Olympics and sparked a still undefeated run of Team USA Olympic gold medal basketball showings.

FROM ATHLETE TO ENTREPRENEUR

Life today looks different for Anthony compared to his playing days. He presides over a diverse business portfolio that spans wine, cannabis and cigars, as well as extensive community-focused philanthropic endeavors. He also has a burgeoning media career, but more on that later.