Carmelo Anthony was the first Jordan brand athlete in 2003 – He pioneered the movement that attracted many others.
Hot on the heels of Michael Jordan’s retirement, the Jordan brand needed someone to be the sneaker line’s torchbearer going forward. Kobe Bryant was in a sad marriage with Adidas, Tim Duncan didn’t care about shoes, and Shaquille O’Neal was busy with his brand and Reebok.
So who better to fight power than Carmelo Anthony, the 3rd pick in the 2003 draft, facing LeBron James! Jordan couldn’t have chosen anyone better, as this signing opened up a whole new world for players like today’s Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic. It all started with a shoe – from Quentin Richardson of the Clippers.
Carmelo got a pair worn out by the Clippers guard. It was a Jordan 9, which is one of his favorite models to this day. Over the years he’s had many famous collaborations with MJ’s brand, but the best hits are still the Denver 2, the white and yellow 12s and the all-red “Win like 96” Jordan 11.
Sneaker Shopping with Complex was a great platform for him to share stories about his favorite models, and he was glad to be able to talk about them. An athlete like Melo deserves a signature line, and he has it with Jordan Brand.
Also Read: How Carmelo Anthony’s Teammate Became CEO of $100 Million Company Backed by Allen Iverson
Carmelo Anthony stepped out of the box and bought a bunch of kids the shoes of their choice
Usually when people come on the show, they flex for the cameras. Carmelo was down to earth and decided to buy some sneakers for a few kids he knew. He knew the struggles of kids wanting the freshest sneakers, but couldn’t afford them. So he blessed them with a few pairs each.
Melo has been shrewd with his investments, thanks to his friendship with active billionaire LeBron and fellow super agent Rich Paul. The mid-2000s Iso-king quietly amassed a solid bank balance while making room for new investments. A thousand dollars wouldn’t cause even a small scratch on his multi-million dollar fortune.
He also has a podcast where he and his guests talk about wines, fancy liquor, and everything in life. If you’re a fermented grape connoisseur, check out his “What’s in your glass” podcast.
Also Read: $160M Man Carmelo Anthony Could Return to Denver Nuggets 11 Years Later
