A lot has changed since 2003 but one of the things that remains the same on Friday night is that LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony will once again be on an NBA court after entering the league together on a seemingly intertwined journey over 16 years ago.
LeBron James is still an MVP-level player while Carmelo Anthony has become the league’s most inspiring story after being exiled from the NBA for over a year before joining Portland a few weeks ago and playing a large part in saving a season for one of last year’s Western Conference finalists. He’s a third option these days behind Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum but he still has plenty to give, as he has shown on his way to a Western Conference Player of the Week award last week.
The Trail Blazers have won four of their last five as they look to salvage a season that looked dead in the water before bringing Anthony in to save the power forward spot after shoulder surgery forced Zach Collins from action until at least March. On Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Anthony’s contract had been guaranteed through the rest of the season.
That we get another chapter between the two guys, the closest we’ve ever come to Bird and Magic in the intervening years this many years later, is something that shouldn’t be lost on anyone who loves hoops tomorrow night.
