SAN FRANCISCO — Formality was formalized on Friday night when Carmelo Anthony, the biggest nick since Patrick Ewing, was named a finalist for the Nysmith Hall of Fame.
And when he took that step into the orange jacket in his first vote, Anthony received strong support from legendary executives who had to move forward throughout his career.
“He's one of the greatest players ever. Miami Heat president Pat Riley said in an interview with the Post. “Tough security guard. He can shoot. Good size. Athletic. And in Denver. I carried the franchise for a long time and went to New York. I had to do a game plan for him every night because it was always tough covers. And I had an amazing career.
“I don't think that was all that in terms of what they call small positives. He certainly can play in small forwards. He can move forward with power. At the time, we're more than that. It was in position. He could play 2 guards. Today he would have played 5. That's how the game grows. But he deserves it. He makes it I hope that is.”
Anthony is a 2025 class Shoe-in, and enlisted members are enrolled in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 5th.
He ranks 10th in the NBA in career points ahead of Moses Malone, just behind Kevin Durant and Shaquille O'Neal.
He is also a 10 All-Star, including six appearances with the Knicks.
The biggest hole in Melo's resume is the lack of an NBA Championship ring. Riley, a nine-time NBA champion in various roles, can't be involved, but he understands that Hall of Fame should not be banned.
Anthony, after all, took on the burden of leading the Knicks when the franchise was on a dark day, with little help for most of his 6½ season.
“Welcome to a big time,” Riley said. “So you have to accept it. You can't get away from it. So I think he's always embraced it. It's probably for him, since he couldn't win some of those years. It was sometimes frustrating.
“When you're the face of the franchise, there's a lot of hope. And I think that's part of anything in the Hall of Fame. I think they're taking that into consideration. There's no difference. John Stockton , Carl Malone, Carmelo, Charles Berkley. They were always putting pressure on them. And they're all Hall of Fame. Did they win a chip? No. But it wasn't different. They are recognized for what they were in their careers.”
Riley's team won the Knicks championship in 2012-13, Anthony's best season. Mike Woodson Coached Construction won 3-1 against the Heat while winning 54 regular season games.
It was set for the New York-Miami Conference final before the Knicks were upset in the second round by Pacer.
Was Riley worried about facing the Knicks in those playoffs? not much.
“When I got it in 2013 with LeBron and D-Wade, Chris Bosch, Shane Batier and Ray Allen, I'm going to take a chance,” Riley said.
Melo's HOF candidacy is further boosted by NCAA titles with Syracuse and three Olympic gold medals.
He was Team USA's greatest Olympic scorer ever before Durant broke the record last year.
“He was cut out to become a great international player,” former USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo told the Post. “The nuance of the international game, the 3-point distance is a little less. The pace of the game was perfect for him. And with his amazing skill in scoring, we went to him a lot. He had the ability to shoot at any time, because most of the time he scores. He had some games, where in my head, he didn't miss a shot. He loved his competitiveness. He was great in our system. I think he made others better. And he was committed the whole time.”
All the way to the Hall of Fame.
Buck Williams, whose Jersey retired to the net, has finally been named a Hall of Fame finalist, almost 27 years after he retired.
Rebound and defensive specialist Bruising Power Forward joined Anthony as one of four finalists as an NBA player.
Others are Dwight Howard and Marquez Johnson. Some of the candidates not named finalists include Amar'e Stoudemire, World B Free, Robert Horry, Tom Chambers and Reggie Theus.
Williams, who also played for the Knicks, ranks 16th in his career NBA rebounds.
Finalists for non-NBA players announced on Friday include Billy Donovan (coach), Mark Minute (coach), Sue Bird (WNBA), Maya Moore (WNBA) and Mickey Allison (NBA owner). It will be available.
