“Keep Me Alive”: 39YO Carmelo Anthony Gave Michael Jordan’s Last Superstar a Major Responsibility

Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement in May after playing 19 seasons in the NBA. Carmelo was one of the most lethal scorers in the league and finished his career with 28,289 points. Although he did not win a ring during his career, Carmelo did end up 9th in the All-time scoring list and made it to NBA’s 75th-anniversary team. His nickname ‘Melo’ and his ‘Three to the Dome’ celebration are iconic and will always be remembered by the fans.

But there is a new superstar in Michael Jordan’s previously owned team who carries the same nickname as Carmelo and he had a message for the young star.

Carmelo Anthony ends the Melo Debate

Carmelo Anthony expressed his thoughts about Charlotte Hornets’ 21-year-old guard LaMelo Ball. Ball has the same nickname as him as per the recent interview with Overtime Maddy. Ball is supposed to carry the ‘Melo’ nickname forward as Carmelo tells him, “Keep me alive”.

Anthony said, “I love it”. While the NBA world was making a big fuss about it. They even made their first matchup about “Melo versus Melo”, Carmelo went up to the young Charlotte guard before their match and welcomed him to the league.

Carmelo ended the Melo debate by saying, “You do what you do is only gonna keep me alive, so Thank you”.

The former Knicks superstar does not seem to have any issue with LaMelo’s nickname and has no problem calling him Melo. It also helps that LaMelo has a bright future ahead of him and can become a superstar in the league. So, the legacy of Carmelo’s nickname will live on through the young Charlotte star.

LaMelo is the last superstar of Michael Jordan’s Charlotte era

13 years after buying a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, Michael Jordan ended his ownership this June. Even though his team saw little to no playoff success during his tenure, MJ made an exponential profit selling his stake for approximately $3 billion, which he bought for $275 million in 2010. LaMelo was the last superstar to be drafted in Jordan’s ownership in 2020.

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LaMelo became an instant star in the league and won Rookie of The Year, averaging over 15 points and 6 assists. His flashy playing style earned Melo his first All-Star nod in his second season, solidifying his position in the league. LaMelo was having another All-Star-caliber season before a broken ankle stopped his run, and he was done for the season. Even after getting injured, LaMelo bagged a 5-year $260 million max extension with the Hornets this off-season. With this massive contract, the Hornets have chosen LaMelo as the superstar to build their franchise around.

The Charlotte Hornets and Michael Jordan also picked up Brandon Miller with their 2nd pick in this year’s draft, making him the last lottery pick of MJ’s tenure. Miller also has the potential to become a superstar in the league, and it will be fun to see how he gels with Melo next season. With a young core, the Hornets have a chance to build something great in Charlotte. LaMelo will return fully healthy for the 2023-24 season and carry the legacy of Carmelo Anthony and his nickname forward.

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