“He is the greatest player I have ever seen!” Those same words have become a slogan and have echoed throughout basketball history as words spoken by legends about their peers. From Magic Johnson’s praise of Larry Bird to Kobe Bryant’s respect for Michael Jordan, the NBA has seen a rich tradition of stars recognizing the greatness of others. But when a three-time NBA champion picks a player as the best in his hometown, it carries special weight.
On the latest episode of Come And Talk 2 Me, Sam Cassell was asked to name the best player to come out of Baltimore. The 54-year-old former goalkeeper quickly said on the podcast: “Oh, Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo Anthony is the best player to come out of Baltimore, you know what I’m saying. Everyone might say Skip Wise but Skip Wise never played at the level you know with Reggie Williams. So Carmelo Anthony is the best player to come out of Baltimore.
Cassel’s words carry credibility because he already had a long career and was very connected to the Baltimore basketball scene. The city has seen its fair share of NBA talent, including Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Lewis, and Cassel himself. However, in Cassel’s eyes, Carmelo Anthony stands above them all.
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“Melo was a bad kid and I knew Melo when he was 15 and I played an NBA season… Come home now, he’s six-foot-seven now, six-foot-seven now, he’s six-foot-seven now with guard skills.” And now his body is growing, he can jump, he can always shoot, now his handle is better, his body is getting better, he’s getting stronger,” Cassel said during the podcast.
Via Getty
CHICAGO – NOVEMBER 10: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets smiles during the game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on November 10, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. The Nuggets won 105-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this image, user agrees to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Talent coupled with an incredible work ethic took Melo from the streets of Baltimore to the NBA. Immediately after his release from Syracuse, Anthony was selected by the Denver Nuggets third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft and was one of the best scorers in the league from the start. The 40-year-old scored 28,289 points during his career in 1,260 games. On top of that, Anthony’s accolades also speak volumes: 6x All-NBA teams, 10x All-Star, and 2013 scoring champion. Also as a freshman, the former small forward led the Syracuse Orange to the NCAA Tournament, playing a key role in the success Olympian for Team USA, where he won three gold medals.
However, Carmelo Anthony wasn’t the only star Cassel talked about during the podcast.
Basketball stars in the life of Sam Cassell
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During the podcast, the 3x NBA champion discussed various topics and also shared his opinions on several players. However, at the beginning of this clip, the 54-year-old was asked what it was like growing up in Baltimore.
Cassel shared how the city’s vibrant culture and rich basketball tradition shaped his early life and also talked about his early basketball stars. It was like any other city on the East Coast. Man, you know, you had drug problems, and street guys did, but I learned a lot of valuable lessons growing up in Baltimore… We didn’t have an NBA, we didn’t have a major college team in Baltimore City, so The Dunbar High School basketball team was like our stars. “They were our pro team, they were our college team,” Cassel said.
During his 15 years as an NBA player, Cassel averaged 15.7 PPG and 6 APG. This performance can be attributed to the inspiration he got from watching Dunbar High School players.
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Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the second exciting episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.
