Syracuse basketball icon garners ultimate respect from Paul Pierce
Former Syracuse basketball star Carmelo Anthony has done quite well for himself in the NBA. And future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce gave quite the compliment in a recent article.
The Syracuse basketball program has seen many stars over the years, but perhaps none brighter than that of Carmelo Anthony. Well that star just got a bit brighter with the recent comments from future Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce.
Pierce has been around the block in the NBA. He spent the majority of his career with the Boston Celtics. While over the years he has made stops in Brooklyn, Washington, and most recently with his hometown Los Angeles Clippers.
Well it’s official, “The Truth”, will call it a career after 19 seasons in the league. Pierce was drafted 10th overall by the Boston Celtics in 1998. Since that point Pierce has played against some of the premiere talent this league has to offer.
So in the “Players Tribune” he revealed his list of the five toughest players that he had played against in his illustrious NBA career. There were a lot of the big names you expected: the killer instinct of Kobe Bryant, the magic of Tracy McGrady, the athleticism of Vince Carter, and even a modern name in LeBron James cracked the list. But perhaps the most surprising name of them all was at the top of the heap.
“If I had to single one guy out who is the most difficult player to guard in the league, it would have to be Carmelo. He’s a unique blend of being big, strong, and athletic while also having a world-class shooting touch and a natural ability to get to the rim. That’s what sets him apart — every facet of his game is elite.” via the Players Tribune by Paul Pierce
Anthony will go down as one of the most prolific scorers the league has ever seen. Pierce continued on in his piece saying that Melo has no weakness in his game.
Even saying, “if you give him space to shoot, he’ll make it many more times than he misses it.” Despite only playing for a few months for the Orange, he has made a lasting impact on this community. So when a former Syracuse star gets this sort of praise, it’s worth mentioning.
The last thing missing from Melo’s resume is something he’s been chasing for a long time, a championship. While he has stated on numerous occasions he wants to bring one to New York, that just might not be feasible.
Especially considering the elite window that Melo has left. He’s 32 years old and he has a ton of tread on the tires. He doesn’t have many elite years left in him and the team around him isn’t anything special (sorry D-Rose). I know Orange fans are still rooting for him. But if he wants that elusive ring he may have to go elsewhere to find it.
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