Back in the 2000s, the Denver Nuggets were one of the most exciting teams to watch. With Carmelo Anthony leading the way, they had all the ingredients of a team ready to explode. Young talent, gritty veterans, and a growing belief that they were about to make a serious push in the West. But there was one moment that changed everything for Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets—and he didn’t even believe it could happen at first!

In a recent episode of “7PM in Brooklyn,” hosted by Carmelo Anthony and Kid Mero, the two sat down and dug deep into Melo’s Denver days. As they reminisced about the squad and the energy of those years, Kid Mero asked the question every NBA fan had once wondered: “So tell me how it was once you throw Allen Iverson in there?” The tone of the conversation shifted. You could hear the mix of nostalgia, excitement, and “what if” energy coming straight from Carmelo Anthony himself.

That’s when Carmelo Anthony was lit up. “We got AI, It’s on. We like kids in the candy store at the house,” he recalled. Melo talked about the moment he saw Iverson walking down the hallway before a game. “He caught the uh plane and that … got the big gray sweatsuit on… DVD players, Louis bag… that’s how he walked in the game.” It was like watching a legend walk into your locker room and realizing you’re about to share the court with him. “We were struggling… and then we got him,” Melo added, showing how much hope AI brought to a team trying to find its rhythm. But despite all the hype, Carmelo Anthony admits it was never as easy as it looked.

The chemistry wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t just about star power. Carmelo Anthony wanted to build something long-term with guys like Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, and J.R. Smith (nicknamed “Swiss”). “We got Swiss, who’s supposed to be a starter but he’s a starter coming off the bench. You don’t get that,” Carmelo said, showing how stacked and selfless the team was. But adding Allen Iverson was a big shift. “We needed a point guard,” Carmelo admitted. “We didn’t want AI with the ball. He’s finishing. We wanted AI for what AI was.”

They ended up meeting a dynasty—San Antonio. “We win the first game in San Antonio… this is the feeling I’m looking for,” Carmelo Anthony shared. But it didn’t last long. “They came back and us up after that,” he said with a laugh. Looking back, Carmelo realizes they weren’t ready for that level. “We needed that quarterback to be one.”

Allen Iverson — A Trade That Shocked the League

On December 19, 2006, the Denver Nuggets made headlines by acquiring Allen Iverson from the Philadelphia 76ers. “I’m very happy about the trade,” Allen Iverson said in his statement. “Denver’s style of play fits my strengths. I’m looking forward to playing with Carmelo and for George Karl.” And just like that, everything changed in Denver.

Nuggets VP Rex Chapman summed it up perfectly: “Allen has proven that he’s a winner.” That winning fire was exactly what Denver needed, especially after Carmelo and J.R. Smith were suspended following a brawl. With AI stepping in, the team felt reloaded. “We got AI,” Melo said. “It felt like we finally had someone else to go to war with.”

Meanwhile, the Sixers were moving in a different direction. “It was time,” said Sixers chairman Ed Snider. “Allen wanted to move on. We wanted flexibility.” The trade brought in Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first-round picks, giving Philly a fresh start.

But for Denver? It was hope. A chance. Maybe even destiny. “We ran across a dynasty in San Antonio,” Melo said. “We weren’t ready then… but man, we believed.”