Carmelo Anthony: 20,000 Points Secures Spot in Hall of Fame

Sunday, November 2 was an historic day in the NBA. A modern day star elevated his all-time status in a major way by continuing to do what he does best, shooting his way into the ranks of legends.

In a 96-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and eclipsed 20,000 points for his career.

Anthony is the sixth-youngest player in league history to reach that plateau.

Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson are great players to be associated with.

Anthony is a player with a wavering reputation. Undeniably great as a scorer, Anthony’s legacy has debatably suffered from being a member of the storied 2003 NBA Draft class.

With his latest achievement, Anthony has silenced the critics and secured his place in the Hall of Fame.

20,000 Points: An Exclusive Club

The National Basketball Association’s inaugural season commenced in 1950. Since then, 65 NBA seasons have been completed—as well as three under the name of the BAA—and countless players have come and gone.

Only 40 have reached 20,000 points.

Any time you’re one of 40 players to achieve a feat in a league that has nearly 70 years of history, you’re doing something right. When it’s something as glorified as scoring, however, it elevates a player to another level.

That’s the case with Carmelo Anthony.

Of the 40 players in the 20,000 points club, only three retired members are not in the Hall of Fame: Tom Chambers, Allen Iverson, Antawn Jamison and Shaquille O’Neal. It’s essentially a certainty that both Iverson and O’Neal will make it in upon reaching their point of eligibility.

Chambers could go down as the only player left out. While Anthony has averaged at least 20 points in 11 consecutive seasons, Chambers achieved that feat five times in his career.

That’s the degree of separation.

Perhaps the biggest wildcard is the player who reached 20,000 points most recently before Anthony: Jamison. The former North Carolina Tar Heels had a strong and successful NBA career, but he was only a two-time All-Star after achieving an all-time college career.

Again, Jamison averaged at least 20.0 points per game in five seasons to ‘Melo’s 11. Jamison may get in by pairing an elite collegiate career with a strong enough NBA tenure to warrant consideration, but that’s not definite.

Again, Anthony separates himself.

Generally speaking, 20,000 points is the NBA’s version of 300 wins in baseball. It’s very rare that a player can achieve the glorious feat without becoming a virtual lock to make it into the Hall of Fame—37 out of the first 39 isn’t too bad.

If it’s still not enough for you, the rest of Anthony’s resume should do the trick.

Hall of Fame Resume

Carmelo Anthony was selected No. 3 overall at the 2003 NBA Draft. Since then, he’s developed into one of the most decorated players of his time.

The 20,000 career points have solidified his status.

Anthony is a six-time All-NBA honoree and a seven-time All-Star in 11 seasons with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. Those numbers are not only strong, but of extreme importance to his Hall of Fame odds.

Only 10 retired players have made at least seven All-Star Game appearances without entering the Hall of Fame. Those players are Larry Foust, Grant Hill, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, Shaquille O’Neal, Jack Sikma and Jo Jo White.

Iverson, Kidd, McGrady and O’Neal are all virtual locks to make it into the Hall of Fame. Mutombo is widely expected to make his entrance, as well.

Hill and Ming were both well on their way before injuries derailed their respective careers. Something similar can be said for Foust and White towards the tail-end of their storied tenures.

The only retired players with at least six All-NBA nods to not be in the Hall of Fame are Kidd, Iverson, McGrady and O’Neal. We’ve already been over what’s expected of their fate.

Throw in Anthony’s scoring title he’s safe with those four players as future Hall of Famers.

College Counts

The NBA does not have a Hall of Fame designated strictly for its league. Instead, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is just that: a basketball Hall of Fame.

In other words, everything that Carmelo Anthony achieved with the Syracuse Orange is a part of his Hall of Fame resume.

You can stop debating now. He’s in.

Anthony only spent one year in college, but his one season was a legendary campaign. Not only did he win National Freshman of the Year, but he led Syracuse to the one and only national championship in school history.

Along the way, Anthony picked up the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.

With a National Championship, the Most Outstanding Player award, six All-NBA nods, seven All-Star Game appearances and a scoring title, Anthony has a tremendous resume. Considering he’s still 30 years old and playing for a major market team, the New York Knicks, in the prime of his career, that resume is certain to improve.

No matter what happens from hereon out, scoring 20,000 points solidifies a legendary legacy and secures his place in the Hall of Fame.