Carmelo Anthony’s NBA career is full of scoring greatness but also a bunch of playoff letdowns. Over 19 seasons, he scored over 28,000 points, putting him among the top 10 all-time. He averaged 22.5 points per game and was a 10-time All-Star. But despite all those stats, he never won a championship. Anthony made the playoffs 13 times but could never get over the hump. His best years came when he was the main guy on his team, but the lack of a ring still hangs over his legacy.
Unlike LeBron James or Kevin Durant, Anthony didn’t team up with other superstars in his prime. He spent most of his career in Denver and New York, where he carried the team mostly on his own. When he was traded to the Knicks in 2011, he was supposed to lead them, but they never had a real shot at a title. He put up huge numbers in New York, averaging over 25 points a game, but the real playoff success didn’t come until later. His best run was in 2009 when the Nuggets made it to the Western Conference Finals.
Recently, Brandon Ingram has been compared to Anthony, with one fan noting their similar scoring skills and struggles in the playoffs. Anthony didn’t take the comparison too seriously, laughing it off, but some fans suggested he might have felt disrespected by it.
Melo feels disrespected by this Brandon Ingram comparison 😅 pic.twitter.com/feaFux4y0s
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2024
The disrespect this generation has for the real Melo is disgusting
— David Bermudez (@dwbermudez) December 10, 2024
I’ll take Melo’s 7 years in Denver over Ingrams 9 years in the league. You gotta do some consistent winning to make the playoffs all 7 years with a WCF appearance. Just saying 🤷🏾♂️
— QU3ST (@QU3ST89) December 10, 2024
He’s right to laugh its a terrible take
— MaverickSZN 🇦🇺 (@Maverick_SZN) December 10, 2024
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That’s not a good take. Carmelo is way better
— James (@thesaucyboss100) December 10, 2024
As he should. X has been a platform littered with awful takes.
— R4RE_4ORM_ (@Higheyequez) December 10, 2024
Dudes think they are making good points because they have a blue check and 2 of their followers say, "he's cooking" smh..
That is pretty disrespectful to Melo
— FIRE ROB PELINKA 🏁🐍💜💛 (@Selfmade8790) December 10, 2024
Ingram’s career has started strong—this season, he’s averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists—but his overall stats still don’t stack up to Anthony’s incredible career, at least not yet. Ingram has a lot to prove, and this comparison right now doesn’t do justice to either Ingram or Anthony.
Carmelo Anthony’s Career vs. Brandon Ingram: A Detailed Look
Looking at their stats, the gap is obvious. Anthony has played 19 seasons and 1,260 regular-season games, with over 28,000 points, 7,808 rebounds, and 3,422 assists. He averaged 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Ingram, on the other hand, has played 495 games, scored 9,656 points, and grabbed 2,566 rebounds. He’s had some great seasons—like his 2023 breakout—but his career averages are 19.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. It’s just not close to Anthony’s.
The gap shows even more in the playoffs. Anthony played in 83 playoff games, scoring almost 2,000 points and pulling 557 rebounds. He averaged 23.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the postseason. Ingram? He’s only played 10 playoff games, with 219 points and 55 rebounds. Anthony’s playoff experience and numbers are miles ahead. His 30.7 points per game in the 2010 playoffs prove he could deliver when the lights were brightest.
Even though Anthony never won a title, his career is still incredible. He was a dominant scorer for nearly 20 years, with career highs like 28.9 points per game in 2007. Ingram still has time to grow, but are you comparing his early career to Anthony’s? That’s just not fair yet.
Also Read: Brandon Ingram Injury Update: When Will New Orleans Pelicans Star Return To Action?