Carmelo Anthony Says ‘David Stern Ran The NBA Like A Mob Boss’ | LeBron Is Real Lakers GM

By
Rhett Butler
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Image Credit: Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson Twitter

Carmelo Anthony has some facts for the NBA. ’Melo says the late great commissioner David Stern “ran the NBA like a Mob boss” and he has first-hand experience with this.

David Stern Was A Mob Boss

In 2006 when ’Melo was still early in his career, his Denver Nuggets team got into a wild brawl in Madison Square Garden with the New York Knicks near the end of a blowout Denver victory.

Videos of the fracas show ’Melo, who had not been involved in the play that instigated the melee, run over to Knicks guard Mardy Collins, knock him down with a punch to the face, and then quickly retreat backward to the Denver bench as the incident escalated to involve practically all the players from both sides.

His punishment was a 15-game suspension from Stern. The incident came two years after the Malice at the Palace in Detroit.

During an appearance on the “Million Dollaz Worth Of Game” podcast, ’Melo spoke about his suspension and how he felt like NBA commissioner David Stern was a “part of the feds.” Carmelo even claimed there was a situation where Stern told him that he knew when he went to bed and even when he woke up.

“‘I know who you with. I know where you live at. ‘I know where they live at. I know when you close your eyes. I know when you wake up. And I know what they doin,’ he’s telling me,” Melo explained. “And I’m like damn, how the f—? That’s when I knew NBA was part of the feds. He told me, ‘I gotta make an example out of you.’ That’s a fact. He said, ‘I know everything. I know your whole crew. I know who’s doing what.’

The New Jefe

When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James is the boss.

Anthony is experiencing a resurrection of sorts. Since Anthony has enrolled in the Lakers as part of the new super team, he had a lot to say about the mechanics of the move.

With new teammate LeBron James making power moves at every team he goes to, Anthony became the latest courtier in the court of King James. After stagnant talks with the Lakers front office about joining the organization, Anthony became frustrated at the lack of contact.

The Difference Maker

However, it seemed that LeBron’s power extended to help his friend, and the narrative now prevails that his friendship with LeBron buoyed Anthony’s addition to the team.

Anthony said LeBron called him with a simple message, “The time is now,” over the summer, and boom, Anthony was a Laker. However, Anthony expanded on that conversation on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast to shed more light.

“It was a real call, though. It wasn’t like no bulls***. It was a real call,” Anthony said. “I wasn’t expecting it from him. I mean, we talked about it years before, about getting with each other. But I heard it, and that’s my brother. I’ve known him since we was 15, 16. I heard it.

“‘Yo, I need you. Say less. You ain’t gotta say nothing. I already knew what time it is when you hit me direct. The GM ain’t hit me. You the GM, n****.’ He hit me. He was like, ‘Yo, champ. The time is now.’ And you felt it. I felt it.”

James used the juice he had to position his team for a championship. Also, James realized that at 37 years old Anthony is running out of chances to add a championship to his probable Hall of Fame career.

All Hail The King

There has been a definite power shift in the National Basketball Association from LeBron James’ influence and dominance. James delivered more for the game than expected from the buzz surrounding him as a high school player coming straight to the league.

He has single-handedly changed the narrative of the single-minded athlete from solo winner to collectively bargained game changer. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were winners at all costs; LeBron is the winner by team choice.

He maneuvers where the longevity, wisdom, and right piece are in the front office and the court. But he also is smart enough to convince people to move people to his team for their benefit, not just his own.

Former Glories Revisted

The last time Carmelo Anthony tasted a championship was in college at Syracuse in 2003. In his lone year in college he won a national title while being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

But even the Orangemen star had to earn his stripes once he entered the NBA. The Lakers will be Anthony’s sixth team since entering the NBA after his freshman year in Syracuse. That’s 18 years and no rings to claim.

Anthony went from a lagging player mired in former glories to a standout player on the Portland Trail Blazers last season. After polishing his brand under the Blazers banner, the time has come to chase a ring seriously.

LeBron and the Lakers could be the spark needed to help give Anthony the proper ending to a highlight-reel career.

All Hail the King.

Rhett Butler
Rhett Butler is a Boxing Writer Association of America Journalist, Play-By-Play Commentator, Combat Sports Insider, and Former Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing Promoter. The New York City native honed his skills at various news outlets including but not limited to: TIME Magazine, Money Magazine, CNN's Wolf Blitzer Reports, and more. Rhett hosts the PRITTY Left Hook podcast, a polarizing combat sports insider's take featuring the world's biggest names.