Just a few hours before, Carmelo Anthony earned one of the biggest achievements of his life. He secured his selection to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Now, you might be wondering why this is significant, given that Melo is already regarded as one of the greatest hoopers, and his illustrious career warranted it. But looking at his career, it wasn’t always full of happy moments; for example, he has never won an NBA championship. So, his recognition as a Hall of Famer was quite a surprise.

Well, not just that—his career has seen a large number of injuries, including knee, ankle, and back problems, among many others. Well, you name it, and you’ll find the injury on Melo’s list. One thing we can surely say is that his body has been tested for almost two decades. So, as the NBA world comes together to share his happiness, let’s take a look at his injuries and more.

Battling Injuries and Health Struggles: Carmelo Anthony’s toughest phase in his basketball career

Carmelo Anthony has spent 19 seasons in the NBA. And those seasons were shaped by a series of injuries that threatened his playing time. Well, this isn’t new in the sports world. However, from Melo’s side, he dealt with injuries that didn’t allow him to stay on the court as often as he might’ve liked.

During the 2008-09 season with the Denver Nuggets, Melo suffered a fractured hand. Doctors recommended surgery, but his priority was a quick return. Instead, he opted for a splint and was back on the court in just three weeks. While the injury quickly healed and wasn’t too serious, it was a preview of the physical toll to come.

As a young player entering his prime, another wave of injuries began to pile up. In the 2011-12 season, which was his first season with his hometown team, the New York Knicks, everyone was waiting for the native boy to make the best dunks. But, it was when he started to face a string of minor but persistent injuries. Unfortunately, his first season with his home team led to him playing only 55 games, which means he missed half of the season.

Well, that wasn’t it, as the 2014-15 season was waiting for the worst. A knee injury made him miss the majority of games in the first half of the season. After the All-Star Games that season, which were held at the legendary Madison Square Garden, he opted for surgery, leaving him with only 40 games played that season.

Yet, despite the consistent setbacks, the fire in Melo kept him going. He made sure that each time he came back, his toughness and determination only increased. He made his fans believe in the quote, “Injuries make you stronger.”

However, here’s a quick rundown of some of the key injuries that Melo dealt with throughout his career:

1. 2/4/22: Hamstring injury
2. 1/12/22: Back injury
3. 5/8/21: Ankle injury
4. 12/27/20: Health and safety protocols
5. 1/31/20: Personal issues
6. 12/20/19: Knee injury
7. 11/20/18: Undisclosed injury
8. 11/10/18: Illness
9. 2/7/18: Sprained right ankle
10. 11/12/17: Sore back

But you know what? Still, despite the injuries, Melo was a scoring machine. He earned 10 All-Star selections and 6 All-NBA selections. Ok, wait, since we are talking about his games, let’s see how many games he has played so far.

Games played: Carmelo Anthony’s longevity on the court

While we have seen Anthony’s injury, what we haven’t seen is his resilience. This is one of his best qualities. Despite all the setbacks, the hoopster managed to play 1,260 regular-season games over his 19-year NBA career. Oh, isn’t that an incredible number for a hooper with 100s of injuries?

On the other hand, the number of games missed is just 141 throughout his entire career, which is about 7.4 games per season on average. Some players might’ve hung up their sneakers after such a long list of injuries, but Melo never backed down. His drive to play kept him in the game, season after season.

What’s also remarkable is his ability to keep playing at a high level. Despite turning 37 and dealing with numerous injuries, Melo played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021-22 season, his last in the league.

When you compare Melo’s total games played to others, it becomes clear just how tough he was. Since the 2014-15 season—the year Joel Embiid was drafted and Carmelo Anthony entered his 12th NBA season—Melo played 470 games, while Embiid, the who’s who of the Philadelphia 76ers, has played 452.

Either way, let’s not dive into Embiid’s drama this season. However, this comparison lacks full context, as Embiid missed his first two seasons due to injury. Still, it serves as a stark reminder of how much Melo battled through in his career while managing to leave a lasting impact on the league.

Melo’s Final Legacy: Overcoming Injury and Time

Carmelo Anthony’s Hall of Fame selection isn’t just a reward for his scoring ability or All-Star selections. While many players would’ve struggled to stay relevant after multiple significant injuries, Melo continued to fight.

He may not have achieved the championship ring he dreamed of, but he has sealed his legacy. The NBA will forever remember him as one of its most dominant scorers.

This achievement goes like this, 10× NBA All-Star, NBA scoring champion, NBA 75th Anniversary Team, NCAA champion, NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, USBWA National Freshman of the Year, 2× USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year, McDonald’s All-American, 4x Olympic Games medals, 1x World Championship, 1x Americas Championship. His career also completes with 28,289 points, 7,808 rebounds, and 3,422 assists.

In conclusion, Melo’s path to the Hall of Fame was never straightforward. Setbacks, struggles, and physical pain paved his path. But through it all, Carmelo Anthony proved one thing: his heart, passion, and love for the game kept him going, even when the odds were stacked against him. That’s what makes his induction so well-deserved.