Imagine being a rookie in the NBA, still trying to find your footing, and having the guts to call out someone like Carmelo Anthony. Not exactly the usual rookie experience, right? Most newcomers just try to blend in, avoid stepping on any veteran toes, and soak in what they can. But Iman Shumpert? He had other plans.

On a recent episode of Knicks Film School, Shumpert took us back to that moment early in his career that had him seriously heated. “We going into half time. And I am wide open,” he began. You could already sense where this was headed. “Melo go into, you know what he do… He performing surgery… He shot faking. Now he got last dribble.” Shump was just standing there, all alone and ready for a pass, while Carmelo was fully locked into one of his vintage iso sequences. And even when the double team came in? Still no pass.

“What are you doing… I just need the ball at this point… But I am pissed,” Shump recalled. And what’s wild is that no one else seemed fazed to Iman. Melo bricked the shot, and the team just moved on like nothing happened. Known throughout his career as a prolific isolation scorer with intricate offensive maneuvers, Anthony’s style of play often involved extended possessions and one-on-one matchups. But even so, rookie Shumpert was steaming inside, not quite sure what to do with those emotions.

Years later, it turns out he wasn’t alone in that frustration. Back in 2016, Phil Jackson, then-president of the Knicks, also pointed out that Melo’s tendency to over-dribble often slowed down the offense. Jackson believed Anthony could fill a Jordan or Kobe-like role in the triangle, but he didn’t always stick to the system. So yeah, Shumpert’s rookie rage may have had a point. But here’s where the story takes a nice turn.

On their way to the locker room, Shumpert’s mood was so obvious he didn’t even have to say anything. Though Melo hadn’t noticed during the play, he eventually picked up on the tension. And instead of brushing it off, he asked what was up. Iman let him know. Anthony’s response? “‘I saw you. I’ll work on that,'” a simple yet significant acknowledgment from a star player to a rookie, suggesting a level of respect and willingness to improve that laid the groundwork for their future positive relationship. Shump recalled this while admitting to understanding Anthony’s position.

Fortunately, the two stars ended up having a great bond. And the very same Melo who hesitated in passing the ball to Iman expressed his frustration when the Knicks parted ways with Shump. Despite a rocky start marked by rookie frustration over ball distribution, the relationship between Iman Shumpert and Carmelo Anthony evolved into a strong bond, highlighted by Anthony’s genuine disappointment when the Knicks decided to part ways with the young guard.

Carmelo Anthony was upset with Iman Shumpert being traded from the Knicks

For fans who remember the Knickstape era, January 2015 felt like a gut punch. That’s when the Knicks decided to send Iman Shumpert and JR Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a multi-layered trade. With that move, the franchise officially pressed the reset button, plunging headfirst into a rebuild that would reshape everything.

Let’s not forget that Shumpert and Smith were more than just players—they were part of the soul of that electrifying 2012-13 squad. Alongside Carmelo Anthony, they helped breathe life into a team that had long been searching for an identity. By that point, other familiar faces like Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton, and Steve Novak had already packed their bags. So when Shumpert sat down for an episode of the 7PM in Brooklyn, it naturally brought back memories for Melo, along with a few raw emotions.

For Anthony, the trade made no sense. He genuinely believed the team’s path back to relevance ran through players like Shumpert and Smith. “You don’t touch this nucleus right here,” he said passionately. “Do you know what the f— y’all just did? You’re going to send them to [James]? We’re building to go against [Cleveland!].”

And in a twist of fate, Carmelo Anthony’s words rang true. Both Shumpert and Smith became key stars in Cleveland’s run of four straight trips to the NBA Finals, including that unforgettable 2016 championship. No wonder Anthony was frustrated over losing the very same player whom he would not pass the ball to in his rookie season.