Congratulations to Carmelo Anthony. The veteran Portland Trail Blazers swingman just made history for himself tonight, joining only ten other individuals in NBA history who have scored at least 27,000 points.
Carmelo Anthony becomes the 11th player in NBA history to reach 27,000 career points! pic.twitter.com/bXBupFsn9Q
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2021
The fact that this moment came in the way it did is beautifully poetic. That vintage drive and fade is a signature of the smooth forward's game, and the fact that he hit it over Doncic, one of the league's youngest and brightest stars, almost makes the basket look like a symbolic passing of the torch.
Article Continues BelowAdditionally, the score is the cap of what has become an unbearably fun surprise season from the veteran, and by extension, the Portland Trail Blazers. It was only a year ago that Anthony was an unsigned free agent, reflecting on being slighted by the Houston Rockets in an emotional interview with Stephen A. Smith. The Trail Blazers, similarly, had just come from heartbreak in the previous season's playoffs, with many fans speculating about an inevitable breaking up of the team.
Fast forward to now, and ‘Melo', Damian Lillard, and the Blazers are comfortably above .500 doing so without integral scoring partner CJ McCollum. McCollum has now returned from injury and the Blazers are in sole possession of the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
It didn't look like this milestone was attainable for the future hall-of-famer a few years back, but a lot has changed and he's found a new home in Portland. Moments like this, with the context like that, are what makes NBA basketball, and sports in general, beautiful. Thank you for the memories, ‘Melo. Congratulations again on joining the 27,000 club, and here's to many more.