Denver Nuggets: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

1. Carmelo Anthony (SF) — No. 3 pick in 2003 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Nuggets): 564 GP, 24.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 3.1 TOV, 45.9 FG%, 80.3 FT%

Because of his time spent with the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder, many tend to forget just how great Carmelo Anthony was during his days out west, especially at a time where analytics had not yet frowned upon his style of play.

He wasn’t much of a passer or defender, so that much hasn’t changed, but Melo was still one of the most feared and respected players in the league for his ability to drop 30+ on any given night in a variety of ways.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Carmelo could score from anywhere on the court. Get him at the elbow, and he became unstoppable, with a smooth jumper, a lighting quick first step and strength to finish at the bucket, he couldn’t be stopped.

It’s been well documented that Anthony wasn’t able to have much playoff success while with the Nuggets, advancing past the first round only one time, but that shouldn’t take away from his all-time great scoring ability.

He’s faded plenty since donning No. 15, but Anthony was among the best in the league during an era where his style of play best fit, as a guy who went toe-to-toe with the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, coming out on top a good chunk of the time.

Next: The 50 greatest NBA players of all time (updated, 2016-17)

Already a top-20 scorer of all time, Carmelo’s career in Denver may not have been as much of a success as either he or the team had wanted, but that shouldn’t stop people from appreciating one of the best players of the 2000s, and unquestionably the greatest player the Nuggets have ever drafted.