LeBron James was in on the secret. He knew that Carmelo Anthony was going to announce his withdrawal from the prosecution, but he held his tongue until the end. “Well, I knew the announcement was coming because I shot the video a week ago, the one you saw today. People probably think I lie about that too, huh? I shot this video a week ago so I already knew the announcement was going to happen, I didn’t know what day, but it happened today. »
“I was 16, he was 17, and we were talking about what we could do in the future, what we could do for our mothers…”
For LeBron, who does not rule out imitating “Melo”, it’s a page that turns. Adversaries since high school, but also friends in life, LeBron and Carmelo played together at the Lakers for what will ultimately be the former NBA leading scorer’s last season.
“Frankly, it touches me… He was one of my best friends when I arrived in the NBA and even before. We had so many moments when we were in high school, whether it was competing against each other or sitting outside a hotel room at 2 or 3 a.m. on the steps of a hotel to talk about our journey up to 17 years. I was 16, he was 17, and we were talking about what we could do in the future, what we could do for our mothers, what we could do for our families if we continued to focus on our goals. I believe we were a driving force for each other. We were united like the fingers of the hand since high school. »
He travels to Denver to see Melo in the playoffs
And then there is this 2003 Draft. LeBron joins Cleveland, while “Melo” goes to Denver. Their paths separate, each in a conference.
“Once in the NBA, we saw that he was still a motivating factor for me, since he was in the Western Conference, and I was in the East” he reminds. “After our games, I would rush home to Cleveland, where I had an apartment for my first two years in the league, and rush to light up Nuggets games and watch Melo play. Since we didn’t make the playoffs my freshman year, I was in Denver for their first playoff game. You can check that too, just in case you think I’m lying about it. »
In the end, LeBron James recalls that Carmelo Anthony realized ” an extraordinary career with an incredible journey. » “Whatever happens, we will remain united like the fingers of the hand,” he concludes.
