Carmelo Anthony made his mark at Syracuse University over two decades ago and has continued to be celebrated by the institution for the impact he has left. Over the weekend, the ‘Cuse legend returned to his old stomping grounds to deliver this year’s commencement speech and share some words of wisdom as students prepare to embark on the next chapter in their lives.
“You’ve went through and you’ve been through a global pandemic, social unrest, uncertainty about the world, and yet, here you are. Stronger, smarter, more resilient than ever,” he told a sea of graduates on Sunday, (May 11). “Well, let me tell you something that I’ve learned since leaving Syracuse: your path won’t be a straight line and that’s okay.”
The 10x NBA All-Star spoke about his own non-linear life journey, emphasizing the importance of never placing limits on yourself. “When I left for the NBA, I thought basketball would be my whole story, but life had other plans. I found myself drawn to other passions, business, philanthropy, storytelling. I became an entrepreneur. I started a podcast. I stepped into boardrooms and took conversations about culture, ownership, equity, and I realized that I was more than just an athlete. And so are you, more than just more major, more than just your resume, more than others expect you to be,” he continued.
The NYC native left students with an encouraging message to keep as they depart from Cuse’s campus and into the post-grad world. “You don’t have to fit in a box. You can have multiple careers, change directions you can evolve again and again, as long as you keep chasing what sets your soul on fire,” he concluded.
The motivational moment was full-circle in more ways than one. In the fall, Carmelo’s 18-year-old son, Kiyan, will be stepping onto campus for his freshman year. The young talent will be training at the athletic facility named after his dad, the Carmelo Anthony Basketball Center, and playing against other top schools in the JMA Wireless Dome, formerly named the Carrier Dome.
Although Melo made headlines for his accomplishments while playing in the NBA, his season at ‘Cuse is widely regarded as one of the most exciting times in his career. As a freshman, he led the team to a 30–5 record that resulted in the school’s first-ever NCAA title. He was the consensus pick for NCAA Freshman of the Year, Big East Conference Freshman of the Year, and named to the All-Big East First Team. Melo initially had plans to stay at the school for more seasons, but wound up declaring himself eligible for the 2003 NBA draft, where he was chosen third overall by the Denver Nuggets.
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