“Yo, I need you.” — Carmelo Anthony shares how LeBron James recruited him to join the Lakers
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony
© Kiyoshi Mio - USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony battled in high school, and their rivalry was deemed the next Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry. But things changed in the NBA as James enjoyed more success than Melo. Despite that, LeBron didn't hesitate to call up his friend and ask for help.
“Yo, I need you”
Melo guested on Million Dollaz Worth of Game Podcast in 2021 and shared how he got to play for the L.A. Lakers and mentioned all it took was a direct phone call from James.
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“It was a real call. It wasn’t like no bul***it. I wasn’t expecting it from him. I mean we talked about it years before about getting again with each other but I heard it. That’s my brother. I knew him since he was 15, 16. ‘Yo, I need you.’ Say less. You ain’t gotta say nothing. I already know what time it is when you hit me direct. He was like ‘The time is now.’”
Anthony added that going to the New York Knicks was a real option for him since his son would go to high school there. But things changed after that call. At that time, it was a strong team on paper. A team with sure Hall of Famers James, Anthony, and Russell Westbrook could give any team a run for their money. Unfortunately, the opposite happened. The age of the roster showed. Melo didn’t get to win a ring with close friend LeBron James.
What’s next for Carmelo Anthony?
Anthony is one of the more notable names on the free agent list. It's known what he brings to the table at this point in his career, and there's still interest in those services. The Suns, Heat, Bucks, Nuggets, Knicks, and Nets are all rumored to have interest in his services. Title contenders and the Knicks, the reasoning is obvious.
Given the miles on his body, Carmelo may decide to stay in shape, see how the regular season is playing out, and then pick a team that gives him the best opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way.
