When it comes to LeBron James’s inevitable retirement, Carmelo Anthony is letting his longtime friend and draft-class brother face that moment alone.
Anthony, who entered the league with James two decades ago and is now a retired analyst for NBC, recently revealed why he won’t broach the sensitive subject with the 41-year-old Lakers star.
“I know it’s a very sensitive time,” Anthony said during an interview on CNBC. “You’re battling the love and the passion and everything that you have for the game, and you’re also battling, hey, family, and you know it’s coming to an end. I try not to kind of talk about that and allow him to just be him and do what he do.”
Having been through the same emotional “tug-of-war” himself, Anthony understands the uneasy balance between holding onto greatness and knowing when you’re
“over the hill.”
Carmelo Anthony’s respectful silence
Anthony called it a “seesaw,” a fitting metaphor for the internal, psychological conflict that stops being purely physical. In a world where everyone has an opinion on LeBron’s timeline, Melo’s silence is a pointed act of brotherhood and respect.
“I try not to kind of put that… and allow him to just be him and do what he do, and try to figure this out with him and his family,” Anthony added.
He knows any advice, no matter how well-meaning, would only cloud his friend’s judgment.
This doesn’t mean Melo hasn’t weighed in on James’s future. He recently commented on what he believes would be the perfect final chapter for the King, who is currently sidelined with sciatica.
Melo’s only advice for LeBron
“He should end his years with the Lakers,” Anthony stated. “You’re talking about somebody who wants to win championships, and he wants to be put into the right position to win it… He’s just going to go out there and play.”
For now, the Lakers are focused on turning the dynamic duo of James and Luka Doncic into a championship, a final push before the inevitable retirement that Carmelo Anthony, out of respect, is leaving for LeBron alone to confront.
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