[frogmanParticipant]

Did anyone see what Chauncey Billups had to say about Melo the other day?  I am not tech savvy enough to post working links but in an interview he stated that when he was playing with Melo that 30 points just meant ‘too much’ to him.  Stated that Melo would put up 20 points and they would get the W and he would be sulking but when he puts up 36 points and they lost he would be in the locker room picking guys up.

This is basically what fans/analysts have been saying for a while but pretty crazy for someone he shared a locker room with to come out and actually say it.  Massive indictment on Melo.  Would love to see him put the ego aside and contribute to a team but hearing this I highly doubt he will be able to.

[The GoatParticipant]

Pretty much sums up why no one has touched him. Egomaniac in it for himself. 

You can say he’s retired, cos he doesn’t have the spine to take a bench role or play anywhere but the NBA . 

[Arc12345Participant]

Melo is done. That’s pretty bad because Billups is a good guy who isn’t going to blow smoke for no reason (for example when he’s been asked about the Darko Milicic draft pick, his own struggles early in his career, etc. he’s been professional and never been a jerk – only stating facts).

He’s had opportunities to win and do something different:

1. When he resigned with the Knicks who gave him a ridiculous contract vs. going to the Bulls (still on a max dollar deal and competing) he showed above all money means the most to him. Fine – don’t really blame him.

2. In OKC right after being traded. Flopped and couldn’t accept his new role in order to win.

3. After signing with Rockets and again couldn’t accept his new role in order to win.

Melo was a big winner in college (perhaps an even harder level to win at with the tournament style play), but clearly put his personal success over team success. That attitude was fine maybe early in his career when he was a stud but it ultimately got him ousted from the league when he declined.

 

[Sharp ShooterParticipant]

Billups is no saint. I do recall him in an interview where he completely dogged Joe Dumars, darko, also towards the end of his career he became a primadonna which he left detroit on a sour note, the 2nd time he came back to detroit. He also was the main culprit advocating for the pistons to draft Melo. So I am a huge chauncey fan, but I call a spade a spade. Chauncey on commentary he can be a controdict himself alot

[mowestenParticipant]

The game has really changed in the past 5-10 years, which doesn’t help ball dominant, ISO players. Especially not when they shoot .405 from the field as Anthony did at the end

 

The subtle point Billups was making is that the good/great players who care about winning, eventually, throughout the course of their career, become great at the nuisances of the game and the little things that impact winning but aren’t widely recognized on social media or ESPN highlights.

 

When your primary focus is whether or not you scored 30+ points you are infinitely less likely to be concerned with things like hedging a screen properly.

 

As for Anthony’s success in college, you know, it kinda makes sense that it would happen at Syracuse — a program that hasn’t played a minute of man defense in 30 years. They hid him in their zone and let him focus on offense.

 

 

[BlueRivers25Participant]

 If Carmelo’s career is indeed over, is he a Hall of Famer? 1st Ballot? How about Vince Carter?

Tracy McGrady was 1st ballot. 

 

[mowestenParticipant]

Irrelevant — basically anyone who can spell basketball is the the basketball HOF. The thing is a joke. It reminds me of my hometown HOF where the person who started it inducted himself. 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

A lot of people say that the NBA is the best collection of x amount of players in the world. It’s not true. Most of them are, but there are some guys that can’t play in the NBA because the only time they have value is when they are the best player or they have the ball. Melo is one of those guys that was a superstar that wouldn’t adapt to a lesser role or change his play style. That has kind of been his thing.

I remember when he forced his way out of Denver. I don’t blame him for wanting to get all of his money and end up at his destination sooner, but he helped push the Knicks to gut their depth. Sure they didn’t give up any all stars for him, but it would have put the team in a better position to succeed. I never felt sorry for him because regardless of how dysfunctional the Knicks are, he created most of that situation. Flash forward to 2019 and you have Kawhi that wanted to go back home, willing left money on the table and also brought an all star with him. Ego can be good, but not when you are delusional. Melo is the type of guy that always left you with confused because he kept doing things that didn’t make sense.

[bigfungotitdone5timesParticipant]

 i think melo gets in the hof on his first ballot. the gold medals is the reason i believe he gets in first ballot. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Carmelo’s a beast and one of my favorite payers I was ever lucky enough to watch. Silky smooth scorer like no other. Another one of those guys people just love to gang up on.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Billups basically called him a stats padder.

[rtbtParticipant]

 My High School coach always told us, if one guy hogs the ball and takes most of the shots, the other 4 guys will stand around and watch him. Always remember, basketball is a TEAM game.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 I just wanna know what happened in Denver for his attitude to deteriorate? His playstyle was markedly different, as was his body, as he "matured". Carmelo, for all intents and purposes was a winner and a leader when he entered the league. I feel like Iverson became a bad influence on the course, as did JR who became his buddy off it, and even George Karl with his rigidity and outright attempting to shame Melo into "better behavior". They became 4 knuckleheads. They were some of the most fun teams to watch, and very good evidenced by his 7 consecutive years in the playoffs, and maybe a younger Carmelo, Billups, JR, Kenyon would have faired better in todays NBA.

At some point, winning stopped being a priority. And it makes me sad. Because he was so damn good in his prime. He would dunk on anybody. Post up anybody. Crossup anybody. Pull up on anybody. 

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