After dazzling the world with his multi-level scoring on the hardwood for 19 years, Carmelo Anthony got his deserved enshrinement ceremony. The 10x All-Star didn’t wait until retirement to transcend to off-court business success. From production to the wine business, add his clothing line and the cigar venture, and one can easily spot him being eager to establish himself one more time. So, there is no doubt that the 2x Hall of Famer is already planning his next move.

“I love luxury at the end of the day; I love details. Whether it’s art, watches, or design, I like to see something executed at a high level.” In the conversation with Max Berlinger in the September issue of Cultured, the Knicks legend detailed his love for being an avid art collector. In fact, he is already playing the long game.“Thinking about my legacy. I’d like to cement myself into the art world as a collector, [and] eventually show the world my full collection. But we’ll get there. I’m not in a rush.”

Melo already has plans to share his extensive collection with a broader audience by curating shows. But like any real athlete, Anthony knows the right things come with patience. The three-time gold medal Olympian applied the same unrelenting devotion to amassing an impressive collection, emphasizing street art and photography. In fact, it was his former teammate who helped him not only understand the difference between artists but also help him find his genuine connection.

“I’d hear these older guys talk about Black art, how they’d go down to SoHo in the 1980s and buy pieces. When you hear those stories, it makes you want to go on your own journey.” The Brooklyn and Baltimore native began collecting in earnest while still starting out in the league, thanks to the guidance of older players like Juwan Howard. It’s not the only time that the former scoring champion credited his teammate.

Back in 2023, Carmelo Anthony spoke about being 19 in the league during his rookie year, and it was teammate Howard whose help came in clutch. His guidance was simple: art was more than just “the van Goghs and the Rembrandts and the Picassos.”

Now, Melo’s personal highlights include five works by Nelson Makamo, pieces by Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Ernie Barnes, and Marcus Jansen. Despite owning a 13,000 sq. ft. mansion in Westchester County, New York, Anthony confesses that the collection has grown too large to display coherently in its entirety. But he is ready to leave a lasting impression amid his collection.

Carmelo Anthony has another way to build his legacy

During his 15-minute enshrinement speech, the Knicks legend spoke emotionally about his journey. From the Red Hook houses in Brooklyn and the Murphy homes of West Baltimore, now Melo resides in the Hall of Fame. “Tonight, I don’t just step into the Hall of Fame. I carry with me the echoes of every voice that ever told me I couldn’t.” Many doubted if his scoring ability would ever translate to HOF status. But it did. Even when the critics were loud, the 10x All-Star did not flinch.

There is a reason why. “My why was bigger than me. My why was every kid in the hood who ever thought greatness wasn’t for them. My why was my son, who would watch and would see if his father would fold or fight.” Not letting down his children became a motivational factor for the Knicks legend to push through every naysayers. “I didn’t just want to be a basketball player. I wanted to be a model of redemption, of accountability, of love. My kids saved me. They gave me a reason to move past ego, past noise, past criticism. They reminded me that legacy isn’t what you leave behind. It’s what you lift up.”

His eldest, Kiyan, is already doing that. As the #1 player in New York, he has chosen Syracuse for his next chapter. Yes, the same program that Carmelo Anthony brought their only NCAA title back in 2003. After his NBA career, it’s clear that for Melo, the focus is to make sure his son gets the best advice going forward. And the other path is to keep building on his ventures through various partnerships.