Carmelo Anthony made his long-awaited return to the NBA on Tuesday night for the Portland Trail Blazers in their road matchup with the equally banged-up New Orleans Pelicans.
Anthony, 35, signed late last week with the Blazers after Damian Lillard pushed the franchise to consider the free agent forward and future Hall of Famer.
It was Anthony's first game in a little over a year. He last donned a uniform and went to work on the hardwood in November 2018 when he briefly played for the Houston Rockets before finding himself benched, traded, waived and unsigned throughout the summer until a few days ago.
Former Blazers players were excited to watch Melo return to professional hoops after many pleaded for several NBA franchises to pick up the former league scoring champion.
Channing Frye, a one-time Blazer and ex-New York Knicks power forward (he didn't share a roster with Anthony during the latter's time in the Big Apple) tweeted on Tuesday night that Anthony's return is “must see TV.”
Frye even rhetorically asked what tomorrow's headline would be if Anthony plays well and leads Portland to a win.
Melo is must see Tv! America lives for a great comeback story. If he goes off and the Zer’s win? What’s tommorow a headline gonna be?
— Channing Frye (@channingfrye) November 20, 2019
Injured Toronto Raptors star point guard and last season's champion Kyle Lowry took time to tweet that he's “hype as hell” to watch Anthony play basketball again.
I don’t be tweeting like that but I’m hype as hell waiting to watch @carmeloanthony hoop again…
I think every Nba player gone be watching this!!— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) November 20, 2019
Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, who grew up in the greater tri-state New York area watching the Knicks and Anthony, simply tweeted “Welcome back Carmelo Anthony.”
Former NBA swingman Sheldon Mac — currently playing for the G League Canton Charge — joked that the Pelicans failed to properly defend Anthony, who scored his first NBA bucket off a 3-pointer.
Left my dawg Melo open like he ain’t been working on his G lol ✌🏽
— Sheldon Mac (@sheldonmacc) November 20, 2019
Retired champion center Kendrick Perkins enthusiastically tweeted that he'll be watching ‘Melo on Tuesday night.
Been a change of heart I’m watching Melo tonight!!!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 20, 2019
Trae Young and Bismack Biyombo also chimed in:
It’s Amazing to see the Big Bro back on the Court🙏🏽💯 Welcome Back @carmeloanthony 🙌🏽 #007
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) November 20, 2019
Man, @carmeloanthony really is back 🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Bismack Biyombo (@bismackbiyombo) November 20, 2019
Regardless of tonight's outcome between Portland and New Orleans, Anthony remains the top storyline, as players and fans eagerly await the final results of his first performance in a year.
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