Carmelo Anthony’s Sneaker Highlights
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sneaker CV is as scintillating as his scoring ability. Signing an unprecedented six-year deal with the at just 19, Melo was paid $3.5 million per year for his years with the brand. It was the biggest rookie signing the Jordan Brand had ever made, and it led to a lucrative run of Air Jordan PEs – perhaps only rivalled by the likes of – and a swathe of signature sneakers. In fact, the Jordan Melo 1.5 was the first-ever non-MJ signature sneaker when it launched in 2004.
Anthony, who won a National Championship as a freshman in Syracuse and was drafted as the third pick in an absolutely stacked 2003 NBA Draft class. He is still widely regarded as one of the preeminent scorers of his generation and was named part of the NBA’s 75th-anniversary team in 2022.
With Melo announcing his retirement today, we thought we’d take a look back at the incredible sneaker highlight reel of the three-time Olympic gold medallist.
Air Jordan 12 ‘Melo’ (2004)
A staple of his sneaker rotation during his rookie season, the ‘Melo’ will always belong to the annals of his sneaker legacy. These were so popular, in fact, that they hit retail on three separate occasions. For all you OG Melo fanatics, you’ll remember that the Air Jordan 12 also emblazoned the cover of NBA Live 2005. What a classic!
Jordan Melo 1.5 (2004)
In 2004, after an incredible rookie campaign, the Jordan Brand awarded Melo with the first ever non-MJ signature sneaker: the Jordan Melo 1.5. A cult classic for hoops-heads across the globe, the silhouette combined elements from both the and Air Jordan 2. It was retroed in 2014.
Jordan Melo M10 (2014)
Carmelo Anthony’s 10th signature shoe is still one of his best. Arriving in 2014, the silhouette was designed by none other than Tinker Hatfield. With Melo now spanning a decade-long Jordan Brand tenure (joining the likes of alumni Derek Jeter and Ray Allen), the M10 was one for the history books.