Carmelo Anthony through the years

Anthony shoots over Brad Buckman in the 2002 McDonald's All-American Game, his reward for being a prized recruit.

Anthony dominated college competition in his one season at Syracuse, averaging 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds a game.

Anthony cut down the nets after guiding Syracuse to its only national championship as a freshman in 2003.

Anthony hoists the national championship trophy he won at Syracuse, when he also was Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament.

Anthony was picked third overall by the Nuggets in the 2003 NBA draft, where LeBron James went first to the Cavaliers.

Anthony made an immediate impression in the NBA, averaging 21.0 points and 6.1 rebounds a game in 2003-04.

Anthony and LeBron James were selected third and first in the 2003 NBA draft and have been linked ever since, sharing the 2003-04 rookie of the year award, being snubbed for the 2004 All-Star Game, playing together for Team USA and generally going head-to-head at the same position for a decade.

Anthony joined Jay-Z on the cover of ESPN The Magazine at the end of 2003 for the 100 stories that mattered most that year.

Anthony throws down a dunk in the 2004 rookie-sophomore game during the All-Star break.

Anthony's first NBA coach was the Nuggets' Jeff Bzdelik, who was fired in the middle of Anthony's second season.

Anthony and Nuggets coach George Karl had an occasionally combative but generally very strong relationship during their years together.

Anthony has a long history of raising his game against elite competition, such as former West rival Kobe Bryant.

Anthony was at the heart of the rebuilding of Team USA basketball, which began in the 2006 world championships, where they won gold.

Anthony and Allen Iverson comprised an interesting, scorer-heavy, corn-rowed pair in their roughly two seasons together in Denver.

Anthony publicly apologizes for a DUI charge he pleaded guilty to in 2008.

2004: Vince Carter

Anthony's Nuggets gave a strong push to Pau Gasol and the Lakers in the 2009 Western Conference finals but ultimately lost in six games.

Anthony averages more than six rebounds a game for his career.

Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups found great chemistry in their time together, both with the Nuggets and the Knicks, whom they were traded to together.

Anthony married MTV personality Alani "La La" Vasquez in 2010 after a long engagement.

Anthony has played in six All-Star Games, averaging 19.5 points.

Anthony spent much of his final half-season in Denver frustrated with a team that didn't come together as in years' past.

Anthony, left, and Chauncey Billups, right, joined Amar'e Stoudemire in February 2011 as part of the rebuilt Knicks in a trade with the Nuggets.

Anthony is known as a scorer but often runs the Knicks' offense and averages more than three assists a game for his career.

Anthony and Jeremy Lin had a tenuous relationship in their one season together, when Lin emerged as the Knicks' star after Anthony was hurt. Anthony later dismissed the contract Lin signed with the Rockets as "ridiculous."

Anthony struggled in each of his first three meetings against his former team, the Nuggets.

Anthony and Team USA defended their 2008 Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games.

Anthony and Celtics center Kevin Garnett were involved in a war of words that led to Anthony's suspension for a game during the 2012-13 season, but they say the dispute is done.

Anthony has been surrounded by veterans such as Jason Kidd with the Knicks, allowing him to blossom into a more well-rounded player.

Anthony broke the Knicks' single-game scoring record with a 62-point outing against the Bobcats on Jan. 24, 2014.