Carmelo Anthony is no stranger to greatness on the international stage. With one bronze medal and three Olympic gold medals to his name, he’s one of the most decorated players in Team USA history. So when he was asked to pick his all-time Team USA starting five, he boldly made the call. And yes, as a four-time Olympian, Anthony didn’t hesitate to include himself in the lineup.
Carmelo Anthony Names Himself in All-Time Team USA Lineup
It’s always fun to stack up one’s all-time Team USA starting five against the greats—and Carmelo Anthony recently revealed his own picks. In a laid-back episode of Instagram’s “Close Friends Only” series, the Olympic icon sat down with his son, Kiyan, for a candid and entertaining offseason interview that quickly caught fans’ attention.
The episode opened with a playful exchange. When asked, “Who wins in a game to 11 right now?” Carmelo smirked and said, “I’m going to make the game just super easy.” Kiyan didn’t hesitate to clap back: “And it is not going to be easy.” The father-son banter set the tone for the rest of the segment and earned plenty of love online.
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Later in the episode, Carmelo was asked to draft his personal All-Star lineup for the USA Olympic team. He went with five names: Chris Paul, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and, of course, himself. He said, “I’ll go with Chris Paul because I played with Chris Paul for two Olympics. So, CP, [Michael Jordan], LeBron [James], [Kevin] Durant, and myself.”
If there’s any room for debate, it might come from Anthony leaving off names like Charles Barkley or even Shaquille O’Neal, both of whom had dominant runs in international play and NBA history.
Still, Anthony’s lineup should hold up to scrutiny. He, James, and Durant are the only male players to win at least three Olympic gold medals for Team USA, with Durant capturing his fourth in Paris 2024. Based on pedigree and performance, Anthony’s starting five may truly be the most stacked squad the red, white, and blue could put on the floor.
While the debate over Anthony’s all-time Team USA starting five will spark plenty of barbershop talk, the list ultimately reflects a player who helped define international basketball greatness. Including himself may come off as bold, but for a four-time Olympian and three-time gold medalist, it’s a case he’s earned the right to make.
And with the father-son dynamic adding warmth to the conversation, Anthony reminded fans that his legacy goes far beyond medals—it’s about impact, pride, and passing the game on to the next generation.
