“I don’t like it. And I say that because whenever we do that, we fail to appreciate what we have in front of us.” Carmelo Anthony made it clear many years ago that he has no interest in the GOAT debate. It makes sense because Melo has a close relationship with both Michael Jordan and LeBron James. The former was his inspiration while growing up, and with the latter, he shared the hardwood and to this date, he shares a close bond with him. But the Knicks legend experienced what stood out the most between the two and shared the example of NBA 75.

“LeBron has that aura to this generation, but the difference with this generation is that they give that aura to a lot of people,” Carmelo Anthony spoke to host Tom Mitchell during his trip to Australia. “He is LeBron of this generation like he’s not Michael Jordan of this generation…He’s LeBron James of this generation, there’s no Michael Jordan to this generation.” During that coveted ceremony, His Airness even did a thing that set him apart.

“So Jordan’s him. Jordan is him in that 75 like he didn’t come in that room. He probably the only one who didn’t come in that room,” Melo added. During the All-Star weekend in 2022, the greatest 75 players in the league were honored. They even were sitting in a different room, with only those players allowed. But MJ was sitting separately from those players and when he entered the room, his “aura” could be felt by others in the room, explained Melo.

“You know, you feel it and as players, we know when Black Cat come in that room it’s different. It’s different, it’s just it is, it’s different you can’t teach that. You can’t explain it, you have to be there to understand what that aura really feels like.” Carmelo Anthony spoke to the Ball Magnets podcast, but he was not the only NBA 75 player to feel that aura of Michael Jordan.

Allen Iverson, who is also part of the illustrious NBA 75, called the honor his greatest feeling. “The greatest feeling that I had,” said Iverson as he also explained how others felt when Michael Jordan walked into the room. “I remember the reaction from them like I was looking at it like ‘Yo, this man is the man for real.'” Similar to AI, Carmelo Anthony too ain’t a fan of the GOAT debate.

Melo is tired of redundant GOAT debate involving Michael Jordan

The former Knicks star made it clear who his GOAT was but also highlighted the problem. In his interview in 2020 with CBS Sports, Melo said, “You know, MJ is the GOAT. He’s the greatest ever. We all know that and we all agree to that.” Michael Jordan is the reason why many players fell in love with the game and have shared it multiple times. But that doesn’t mean the other players don’t get the appreciation from fans.

“Why can’t we say that, but also give LeBron his flowers while he’s here, too?” Carmelo Anthony had a question for the fans. “Why can’t we say, ‘M.J. was very great, LeBron is very great, Kobe is very great.'” 

He was not on board with the idea of choosing one and completely forgetting the others. Being in the NBA 75 room meant that everybody had paid their dues to be ranked as one of the best in the league’s history. And for some, Michael Jordan would remain at the top of Mount Rushmore, but the debate about putting others down should be stopped felt Melo.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.