Carmelo Anthony's 19-year NBA journey yielded only one scoring title, which he captured in 2013 with the New York Knicks.
## What happened to Carmelo Anthony's killer instinct?
Anthony's natural talent for scoring was evident from his early days in the league, earning him the status of one of the best isolation scorers.
He played alongside legends like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, yet former Croatian NBA player Damjan Rudez thinks Melo could have achieved more.
Rudez said on the "6.75 Range" podcast that Anthony lacked the edge and drive, having an effortless and relaxed approach to the game.
## How did Carmelo Anthony's playing style affect his performance?
Anthony's silky-smooth jump shot and elite mid-post technique made him virtually unguardable, as seen in his 62-point night at Madison Square Garden.
Melo was so smooth in his prime that it sometimes felt like he didn't even need to break a sweat to get his points.
## What could have been different for Carmelo Anthony?
Rudez's words force us to wonder how a player of Anthony's elite class never won an NBA championship or MVP award.
Is it possible that Melo simply lacked the ultimate drive to completely demolish everything in front of him?
Rudez recalled Anthony's impressive legs and lower body, which made him special, and his pull-up jumper, which was a gift from his mother.
And Melo was highly durable, dominating for a very long time, with a career spanning 19 years.
But at the same time, you'd watch him and think, 'You're not even really trying right now,' as Rudez put it.
So what did Carmelo Anthony achieve in his career?
He was a 10-time All-Star and had an impressive scoring record, but ultimately fell short of winning an NBA championship.
As of 2013, Anthony had only one scoring title to his name, a feat he achieved while playing for the New York Knicks.