Lakers' LeBron James: 'So Damn Proud' of Carmelo Anthony Being Named HOF Finalist

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James expressed his happiness after one of his closest friends, Carmelo Anthony, was named a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame finalist.

Anthony should be a first ballot Hall of Fame lock after a phenomenal 19-year career that included 10 All-Star appearances, six All-NBA nods and a spot on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. He also won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and won a collegiate national championship with Syracuse in 2003.

Anthony is one of 17 Hall of Fame finalists, a group that includes Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Dwight Howard.

The next Hall of Fame class will be announced on April 5, the day of the men's NCAA tournament Final Four. The enshrinement ceremony will occur on Sept. 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the home of the Hall of Fame.

Anthony will assuredly need to make plans to be in Springfield. One wouldn't be surprised to see James there supporting him.

The two entered the NBA together in 2003. James went first overall in the draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Anthony was third to the Denver Nuggets.

The ageless James remains one of the NBA's faces, but Anthony held that mantle as well for quite some time as he lit up the scoreboard for the Nuggets and then the New York Knicks in his second NBA chapter.

Together, the two most notably starred on the 2008 and 2012 Team USA squads that won Olympic gold in Beijing and then London, respectively.

James will assuredly join Anthony in the Hall someday, but for now, he's looking to lead L.A. to an NBA title.