When I first heard Carmelo Anthony was joining the Lakers in 2021, I'll admit I got genuinely excited. Having followed his career since his Denver days, I always believed he had that special veteran presence that could transform a team's chemistry. His Lakers journey, though brief, turned out to be one of the most fascinating chapters of his career - not just for the numbers he put up, but for how he impacted the team dynamic.
I remember watching that preseason thinking how perfectly his skillset would complement LeBron's game. At 37 years old, Melo wasn't the explosive scorer from his Knicks days anymore, but what he brought to that Lakers roster was something statistics couldn't fully capture. He appeared in 69 games that season, starting just 3 of them, yet managed to average 13.3 points per game while shooting 44% from the field. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but for a veteran minimum contract, the value was absolutely there.
What really stood out to me was how his presence affected the team's morale and chemistry. There's this quote from volleyball player Bella Belen that perfectly captures what I think Melo brought to the Lakers locker room: "I'm very happy kasi may kasama kong ganun sa team. Actually, hindi lang naman siya [Genesis], halos karamihan na rin sa team, halos kalahati na nga ng team, ganun na rin sila." While she was talking about volleyball, this sentiment translates beautifully to what Anthony provided. When you have a future Hall of Famer like Melo embracing his role, it sets a tone that permeates throughout the entire organization. Nearly half the team seemed to feed off his professional approach.
His shooting was particularly valuable during that challenging season. Melo connected on 37.5% of his three-point attempts, which translated to about 2.2 made threes per game. In today's spacing-oriented NBA, having that reliable catch-and-shoot threat opened up driving lanes for others. I remember specifically during that November game against Charlotte where he dropped 29 points - it was like watching a time capsule of his prime scoring ability.
The defensive limitations were certainly there - at his age, he wasn't going to lockdown opposing wings anymore. But what impressed me was how he compensated with basketball IQ and positioning. He averaged nearly 1 block per 36 minutes, which for a 37-year-old forward is actually quite remarkable. He understood angles and used his veteran savvy to disrupt plays rather than relying purely on athleticism.
Looking back at Carmelo Anthony's Lakers tenure, I'd argue it was more successful than many give it credit for. The team's overall record might not reflect it, but his individual impact and professional approach created value beyond the box score. His journey with Los Angeles demonstrated how legendary scorers can evolve their games to contribute meaningfully even in the twilight of their careers. That final season ultimately provided a fitting bridge to his eventual retirement, showing young players how greatness can adapt while maintaining that scoring mentality that made him special.