Can Melo Win Big?

Carmelo Anthony was one of the top drafted basketball players out of college to the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets had big dreams employing such a gifted athlete. But as the years passed, Carmelo continued to score points, but the Nuggets didn’t win games. In fact in Carmelo’s time in the NBA he has a record worst NBA playoff winning percentage of all-time.

            Melo dramatically made an exit from Denver running to the east coast in 2001 to play for the Knicks believing there would be more success to be had. How has his success been though?

            Since leaving Denver, the Knicks and Carmelo have lost 14 more games than the Nuggets and his old team. Since joining the Knicks, Melo has produced some of his worst shooting percentages and the team has barely produced above a .500 record.

            There are some players in the NBA who help teams win and there are other players in the NBA who produce good numbers and stats individually, but they are not team players and do not produce a team winning percentage. Melo has clearly demonstrated throughout his career that his individual success is more important than his team’s success. People can claim what they want, but numbers and stats speak volumes. Since Melo has been in the league, he made a fit and took away from his team in Denver as he was trying to leave. Melo takes many shots a game scoring high points, but come playoff time, teams play tough defense on him and he doesn’t play as effectively. His team’s winning percentage speaks volumes. Melo and the Nuggets only won three playoff games in their first five playoff appearances. They then actually played well and made it to the Western conference finals only to win two games and fall short. Melo’s following two seasons with the Nuggets he only won two more playoff games before running to the Knicks.

            Melo has only continued his old habits with the Knicks as the Knicks have only won one playoff game since he has been with them. He needs to make a statement here soon otherwise Melo will always be known as the greatly gifted player that only played as a player, and not as a team.