Enjoy the LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony Matchups While You Still Can
Was 2003 really 12 years ago?
As LeBron James gets his chance to tie Carmelo Anthony in regular-season head-to-head victories when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the New York Knicks on Wednesday, November 4, we can't help but remember that fateful summer when the NBA was blessed with two future Hall of Famers, and friends, who would change the landscape for multiple franchises.
LeBron James of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, and Carmelo Anthony, a freshman at Syracuse University, would go No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in a star-studded draft, instantly breathing fresh air into the previously lifeless Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets.
Those two teenagers, with seemingly limitless potential and an abundance of athleticism, have grown up to thrill us with their matchups over the past decade-plus.
But nothing lasts forever.
While both are still playing at a high level, how much longer can these titanic clashes truly last, and is the appeal already fading?
Now in their 30s, we need to cherish LeBron vs. Carmelo even more while we still can.
Before the Association
While James and Anthony faced off as professionals for the first time on November 5, 2003, it was hardly the beginning of their on-court battles.
The two originally squared off while in high school: James at St. V's and Anthony at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Crowds of 10,000-plus and national TV audiences tuned in to watch what many believed to be the next Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry. James was the best junior in the country. Anthony, the top senior.
"What was so positive about it was they both showed a mutual respect for each other. There was no trash talking and no trying to show the other guy up. It was fun to just watch their talent," Tim Rogers, who covered the game for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, told ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst.
A year later, Anthony would go on to lead Syracuse to a national championship as a freshman, averaging 22.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament and a lock for the No. 1 pick in the draft.
In any other year, that is.
With Anthony off to college, the eyes of high school basketball had focused solely on James. He didn't disappoint.
James' Irish went 25-1 during his senior year, winning an Ohio Division II title. The 18-year-old phenom averaged 30.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists while capturing his third Ohio Mr. Basketball award.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made it clear James would be their pick at No. 1 overall, while Anthony was selected two spots later by the Denver Nuggets.
Now 13 years later, we prepare for yet another round of their heavyweight fight.
James vs. Anthony, Head-to-Head
From the moment they entered the professional ranks, it was clear both James and Anthony belonged.
James flashed his all-around game, initially forced into a point guard role for coach Paul Silas and the talent-starved Cavs. Anthony, surrounded with far more help, immediately became the Nuggets' go-to scorer.
The first NBA showdown saw Anthony's Nuggets take down James' Cavaliers 93-89. While both struggled with their shot, the world got a glimpse of what was about to transpire.
These were boys built like men. Statures stretching to 6'8". Frames holding 220-plus pounds of muscle. The size to play power forward, yet the ball-handling and scoring ability of a guard. Fierce competitors, yes, but far from enemies.
Anthony finished that first game with 14 points and six rebounds in 39 minutes. James struggled to the tune of seven points, but contributed a game-high 11 rebounds and seven assists.
This is how the two fared for years, with Denver regularly making the postseason by surrounding Anthony with good, albeit not great, role players. Cleveland missed the postseason in James' first two years before becoming a regular staple in May and beyond.
Over the past 12 seasons, James and Anthony have faced off 28 total times. Thanks to the early head start in Denver, Anthony sits with the regular-season advantage over James, 12 games to 11.
Here's how both have fared going head-to-head in the regular season.
*Factor one playoff series matchup in 2012, however, and James holds the overall lead of 15 to 13.
While greatness can be defined by their on-court meetings, there's also a legacy factor as well.
Anthony single-handedly altered two franchises when he was traded from the Nuggets to the New York Knicks in February 2011, just months after they failed to woo James in free agency. James, of course, elected to sign with the Miami Heat the summer prior, leaving the Cavaliers in disarray. While New York made it no further than the second round, James captured two titles and made four Finals trips with the Heat in his four seasons in South Beach.
Finally, the pressure to win was transferred.
James has become known as the superstar others want to play with; Anthony, the star others avoided this past summer.
While there's no denying Anthony's scoring ability or Hall of Fame candidacy, he's taken a clear backseat to James. The latter has won titles, MVPs, been the better defender and improved those around him.
Last Go-Rounds?
James vs. Anthony has always been entertaining, but it no longer carries the same buzz because of where each star now stands. The flame is already beginning to flicker on this once must-see matchup.
While Anthony's Knicks should be better than the 17-65 version we saw a year ago, few have them pegged as a playoff team, even in the weak Eastern Conference. James' Cavs, on the other hand, are the clear team to beat in the East and could very well win the NBA Finals, if healthy.
For James, he has far bigger and better matchups these days.
The San Antonio Spurs will always be a big storyline when squaring off against the four-time MVP. Going against players like Paul George, Jimmy Butler or Kawhi Leonard offers far more resistance. Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are on the verge of becoming James' next big adversary, thanks to last summer's Finals clash.
The other question is do James and Anthony even view this as a rivalry anymore? Last year, James went out of his way to compliment Anthony, referring to him as one his "three very good friends" in the league, along with Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, per Joe Vardon of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
James will be 31 by season's end, Anthony 32. There's a good chance that in two to three years the Cavaliers-Knicks draw will be centered around Kyrie Irving vs. Kristaps Porzingis instead. That's not a joke.
As both approach their mid-30s, roles and production will surely slow down. Cleveland will rely more heavily on Irving and Kevin Love. For New York, Porzingis, future free agents and draft picks will slowly steal the spotlight.
This is the natural evolution of any NBA team. The Los Angeles Lakers are nearly ready to move on from the Kobe Bryant era, spreading his minutes and shots around to a young core. The Spurs began their reconstruction years ago, giving Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili regular games off while ushering in Leonard, Danny Green and signing LaMarcus Aldridge. James and Anthony may very well be the next stars to follow this similar path.
Even if you think all of the above is overplayed, the math isn't.
Assuming both stars hang around until they're 38 (a reasonable assumption), and counting Wednesday night's game, LeBron and Melo will see each other three times per season during these last five years together. That's not counting any games missed to injury or rest—both of which will happen more frequently as the two age. But let's throw in at least two Eastern Conference playoff series for good measure and spot them a generous six showdowns in each.
That means, at maximum, we have approximately 27 times left to watch these two play each other. (Remember, we've already seen 28, so we're past the tipping point.) The sobering part is that less than half of these will feature the two NBA luminaries at their collective peak powers. Whether one or both erode at the same time, it's coming.
Twelve years ago, we witnessed the birth of one of the great matchups of talent, versatility and scoring that the league has ever seen. James vs. Anthony is still quite significant for now, and rightfully so.
But those days are quickly coming to an end and should be fully appreciated before they're gone.
Greg Swartz has covered the Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA for Bleacher Report since 2010. Follow him on Twitter, @CavsGregBR.
Stats provided by Basketball-Reference.com.
