Why is Anthony known as the NCAA god? He led an unpopular team to win the championship in his freshman year

On July 4, in the brilliant galaxy of the basketball world, Cameron Anthony's name always shines with a unique light. This Brooklyn, New York-born basketball genius wrote a legendary basketball career with his unparalleled scoring ability and his big heart performance at critical moments. Especially the "freshman myth" he created on the NCAA arena, which is still talked about by fans today, becoming one of the greatest solo performances in the history of American college basketball. In the 2002-2003 season, Anthony joined Syracuse University as the No. 1 high school student in the United States. This team that had never entered the NCAA semi-finals has been completely changed because of his arrival. Syracuse University was not prominent in the NCAA territory at that time. The team only entered the final four three times in history, and the most recent one dates back to 1996. However, Anthony's arrival was like a meteor cutting through the sky. He averaged 22.2 points, 10 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, leading the team through the game. In the final against the traditional powerful Kansas University, Anthony scored 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, helping Syracuse University win the championship 81-78. This battle made Anthony the second player in NCAA history to win the final four most outstanding player (MOP) as a freshman, and the last one who achieved this was also dated back to 1986 Louisville University player Pervis Ellison.

Anthony's success in the NCAA was no accident. He has a perfect forward figure of 2.03 meters, and his excellent athletic ability and delicate skills, almost no one can stop him in the university arena. He has extremely rich offensive methods, and is proficient in back-to-back singles, face-frame breakthroughs, and mid- and long-distance jump shots. He is known as the "offensive kaleidoscope". What’s even more rare is that as a freshman, Anthony demonstrates maturity and leadership beyond age. In the critical knockout stage, he stood up many times when the team was behind and used key points to stabilize the morale of the army. Syracuse coach Jim Burheim once commented on him like this: "Cameron has an innate killer instinct. When the game enters a critical moment, the ball is always reassuring in his hands. "

Anthony's magical performance in the NCAA made him a popular candidate in the 2003 NBA draft. That year was hailed as the "golden generation", and future superstars such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all made their mark in this draft. In the end, the Denver Nuggets selected Anthony with the Titan Lottery, and he quickly adapted to the NBA game rhythm. His rookie average of 21 points and 6.1 rebounds per game made him unsurprisingly selected for the All-Rookie Team. During the Nuggets' seven and a half seasons, Anthony gradually grew into a top scorer in the league, ranking second in the scoring table in the 2006-2007 season, second only to Kobe Bryant. In 2009, he led the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals, the team's best record since 1985. In 2011, Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks and returned to his hometown team. At Madison Square Garden, a basketball mecca, he ushered in his peak in personal data. In the 2012-2013 season, Anthony won the NBA scoring leader with 28.7 points per game, and scored 62 points against the Bobcats, setting a single-game scoring record for Madison Square Garden. That season, he led the Knicks to a record of 54 wins and 28 losses, ranking second in the Eastern Conference, and was also selected for the second team of the All-Squad. Although Anthony's years in the Knicks failed to bring a championship, he became the city's basketball idol, and his No. 7 jersey is still regarded as a legend by Knicks fans.

The turning point in Anthony's career occurred in 2017. After leaving the Knicks, he played for the Thunder, Rockets, Trail Blazers and Lakers, but he never found the best position for him. Especially in the Rockets' short experience, he was given up after 10 games, which once put the former super scorer in a dilemma of no ball to play. It was not until he joined the Trail Blazers in 2019 that Anthony re-proves his value. In 2021, he joined the Lakers and joined forces with his friend LeBron James. Although he finally won the 2020 NBA championship with the team, his playing time in the playoffs was limited, and this championship title was somewhat "winning".

Looking at Anthony's NBA career, his achievements in 10 All-Stars, 6 All-Series, 1 Scoring Top Ten, and his achievements in the top ten in the historical scoring list are enough to prove his greatness. But the lack of a championship trophy won as a core identity has indeed become the biggest regret of his career. This is in stark contrast to his glory during the NCAA period. The reason is, on the one hand, related to Anthony's technical characteristics - he is a natural scorer rather than an all-round player, and his contribution to defense and organization is relatively limited; on the other hand, it is also related to fortune. Both the Nuggets and the Knicks, who were at the peak of his career, lack a strong enough championship lineup.

Nevertheless, Anthony's contribution to basketball cannot be ignored. He is an important member of the American men's basketball team "Redification Team", helping the American team win gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming one of the players with the most Olympic gold medals in the history of the men's basketball team. His signature "Three Finger Headshot" celebration action is popular all over the world and has influenced countless young players. On May 22, 2023, Anthony officially announced his retirement, ending his 19-year professional basketball career.

Anthony's story tells us that success in a basketball career can have multiple definitions. At the NCAA, he completed an almost impossible task, leading a non-traditional strong team to the top as a freshman, a legendary experience in itself being enough to go down in history. In the NBA, although he was not crowned by the championship, he proved himself to be one of the greatest scorers of his generation with his continuous high performance.. As ESPN senior journalist Stephen A. Smith said: "Anthony's name must be mentioned when we talk about pure scorers. He may not have a ring, but he has everything a basketball player wants. "