When Carmelo Anthony was asked to give his all-time starting five, many expected the usual list: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Shaquille O’Neal. The safe, by-the-book Mount Rushmore of hoops.
But Carmelo? He’s never been “by-the-book.”
Instead, Melo gave us a lineup that turned heads, sparked debates, and showed us more about his mindset than anything else:
🔸 Tracy McGrady
🔸 Allen Iverson
🔸 Derrick Rose
🔸 Kevin Garnett
🔸 Shaquille O’Neal
At first glance, it might look like a random collection of names. But dig deeper, and this lineup reveals a lot about what Melo values: raw talent, style, toughness, and heart.
Tracy McGrady: The Smooth Assassin
When Melo picked T-Mac, he was paying respect to a player who never reached the championship stage but was one of the most gifted scorers of all time.
McGrady was the guy in the early 2000s who could make a 40-point night look like a casual walk in the park. Melo himself has admitted that he patterned parts of his game after McGrady’s smooth pull-ups and effortless shot creation.
Melo’s pick of T-Mac is like saying: “Greatness isn’t always about rings. Sometimes it’s about artistry.”
Allen Iverson: The Blueprint of Cool
If Tracy McGrady was the smooth assassin, Allen Iverson was the cultural icon.
Iverson wasn’t just about buckets (though he led the league in scoring four times). He was about attitude, influence, and changing the very culture of the NBA. From braids to baggy shorts to wearing his heart on his sleeve every single game — AI was Melo’s mentor and friend.
Remember, Iverson and Melo even teamed up in Denver. That relationship clearly left a mark. By putting Iverson in his all-time five, Melo’s saying: “This guy didn’t just hoop. He showed us how to be ourselves while hooping.”
Derrick Rose: The What-If Legend
Melo could’ve picked Magic Johnson or Stephen Curry for the point guard spot. Instead, he went with Derrick Rose — the youngest MVP in NBA history.
Why? Because Rose represents that raw explosion, the electric style that gets you out of your seat. Melo, as a competitor, respected that fearlessness.
Yes, Rose’s injuries cut his prime short, but in his peak? He was must-see TV. Melo’s pick tells us he doesn’t just care about “great careers.” He values those flashes of brilliance that shook the game.
Kevin Garnett: The Heartbeat
Every team needs a warrior. And for Melo, that’s Kevin Garnett.
Garnett wasn’t the flashiest scorer or the most decorated, but his intensity was unmatched. Trash talk, defense, leadership, rebounding — KG brought the fire every single night.
Melo choosing KG is like saying: “I want a guy on my team who will go to war for me.”
Shaquille O’Neal: The Dominator
Finally, we get to Shaq. The one pick that most people did expect.
Shaq is the anchor of Melo’s squad — the big man nobody could stop in his prime. From 2000–2002, Shaq wasn’t just the best center in the league, he was arguably the most unstoppable force the NBA had ever seen.
Shaq balances the lineup. You’ve got style (T-Mac), swagger (Iverson), explosiveness (Rose), intensity (KG), and pure dominance (Shaq).
What Carmelo Anthony’s Lineup Really Means
This isn’t the “objective” greatest starting five. Melo’s five is about identity.
- He values talent over accolades.
- He respects the culture shifters.
- He’s loyal to players who inspired him directly.
- He’d rather pick guys who made you feel something watching them, not just guys who stacked rings.
In a way, Melo’s lineup is Melo himself: smooth scorer, cultural icon, resilient competitor, respected peer, and overlooked in “GOAT” talks because of rings.
Could This Team Win?
Imagine this lineup in their primes:
- Iverson and Rose in the backcourt: two lightning-fast guards who can create shots from nothing.
- T-Mac on the wing: a scoring machine who can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
- KG anchoring the defense: intensity and versatility.
- Shaq inside: unstoppable force.
This isn’t a perfect fit (spacing would be rough), but it would be must-watch basketball. They’d run you off the floor with pace, swagger, and toughness.
It wouldn’t just be about winning games. It’d be about putting on a show. And that’s exactly why Melo chose them.
Carmelo Anthony’s Legacy in His Picks
Carmelo Anthony’s All-Time Starting 5 tells us something bigger: greatness isn’t always about numbers on a stat sheet.
It’s about moments, energy, and the impact players leave behind.
For Melo, the players that defined basketball aren’t just the ones with the most rings — they’re the ones who made the game beautiful.
And in his own way, that’s the legacy Melo leaves too.
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