$160M Worth Carmelo Anthony’s Spending Spree Continues as He Adds Another League Apart From Breanna Stewart’s to His Portfolio

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ByPranav Kotai

Jun 5, 2024 | 4:10 PM EDT

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Carmelo Anthony always wanted to own an NBA team. “Now! I want it now!” he said when questioned about it. Now, he is an investor in the revolutionary women’s ‘Unrivaled’ league, as announced by the league on May 30. It was co-founded by basketball icons, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Well, Melo just went a step further and seems to be gaining experience overseas before ultimately thinking about owning a team in the NBA! What is he up to?

The National Basketball League (NBL), the premier men’s professional basketball league in Australia and New Zealand, had a press release. It read, “NBA legend Carmelo Anthony as Global Ambassador of its innovative Next Stars program. This appointment also includes Anthony joining the ownership group of a future NBL expansion team.”

The NBL currently has 10 teams, and Anthony will be the owner of an expansion team. As per the information available, the location of the expansion team is not yet decided. However, the former NBA player will have one more role in this overseas league. He will also be the global ambassador for their Next Stars program. But what is that?

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It is a one-year program and will help the league scout for new players. So far, it helped them discover names like LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, and Alex Sarr, who is projected to be a Top 3 selection in the upcoming NBA draft. Kenny Smith was announced as the Head of Next Stars Player Initiatives in North America. But what does Carmelo Anthony have to say about this project?

“In joining the NBL, I’m excited for the opportunity to not just elevate basketball in Australia but to impact the global landscape of the sport…I look forward to working with the League to help play a role in shaping the future of basketball worldwide,” the 10X NBA All-Star shared. The former Lakers star with a net worth of $160M is on the rise and not just for individual interests.

NBA legend Carmelo Anthony has joined ownership of an expansion team in Australia's NBL 👏
Eight players have been drafted out of the NBL's Next Stars program, including LaMelo Ball. 🏀 pic.twitter.com/BpLKLEHRVX
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 4, 2024

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However, Melo isn’t the only NBA personality to invest in an NBL team. The list is long, and it includes Khris Middleton, John Wall, Kevin Martin, Shawn Marion, Andrew Bogut, Al Harrington, and Zach Randolph.

The league and the program are staunch on nurturing talent and cultivating elite players; a notion well suited for Carmelo Antony, who is happy to help the next generation. His recent investment in ‘Unrivaled’ is one good example.

Carmelo Anthony is tackling the WNBA pay disparity!

WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier announced the launch of the Unrivaled about a week ago. It will be a player-owned league, featuring 30 of the top women’s basketball players, who will contest across 6 teams with high-octane 3-on-3, compressed full-court action. The groundbreaking aspect is that the players would receive equity in the league and higher salaries than the WNBA!

Unrivaled is set to debut in January 2025 and is not to clash with the WNBA. Shams Charania reported, ” This league will be run opposite of the WNBA season. The average salary in the WNBA is $120K… The salary in this ‘Unrivaled’ league is going to be about double that.“

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This is to be done through marketing, in-season tournaments, and bonuses. Stewart and Collier expressed that the compensation aspect is important to them, considering most players are obliged to spend their off-season overseas to supplement their current income. And it turns out that several women’s basketball players love the concept and have agreed to be a part of it. Names will be formally announced this summer.

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No doubt Carmelo Anthony is making the right moves before making his dream move for the NBA. The league in Down Under Australia would help future stars with the right mentorship, while the Unrivaled would take care of the previous problems of WNBA players going to foreign leagues.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.