Is Carmelo the Prom Queen?

When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh signed 3-year extensions in 2007, they set themselves up to become the NBA's Student Government. Since that time, the Heat's Big Three largely set the agenda in NBA dialogue, media coverage, and television appearances. LeBron, of course, is the president of this triumvirate, leading the group in explosive comments to the media - but Chris Bosh's recent comments about Omer Asik show that any member of the council is enough to qualify as a quorum. 


Can this "NBA High School" analogy be stretched a little more? I'd go so far as to say that Amar'e Stoudemire, in becoming a free agent last summer, also became the Homecoming King of New York - a title that Carmelo Anthony seems to crave. Given all of the anger surrounding 'Melo, though, I'm left wondering if he's really the Prom Queen.

The NBA's Student Council

Last year, my 17-year old cousin was nominated for prom queen. She was thrilled, but that excitement became horror when students at her school began vicious personal attacks. Some were attempts to support other girls at my cousin's expense - others were simply spiteful people who chose to try to tear down someone they hardly knew. Of course, no one was prepared for the most injurious invectives, which came from her friends. The people who were supposedly my cousin's supporters collapsed under her. Sound familiar?

Which one is 'Melo?

Carmelo Anthony is an odd case. He appears to always have been one of the popular kids in school - after all, he was the 3rd overall pick in 2003. When he "belonged" to fans of the Denver Nuggets, they bought his jersey, clamored over his custom shoe, and defended his inefficiencies. However, 'Melo's critics outside of Denver are very vocal and include some of the most prominent statistical basketball minds, like David Berri. And as soon as it seems that Carmelo wants to start hanging out with a different social circle, Carmelo's fans stop supporting him.

Carmelo's never quite fit into the popular clique among players, either. He is, of course, not the same caliber of player as LeBron James, but few players in history are. Beyond that, though, 'Melo was never going to be part of the Heat's Big Three. His best hope, as LeBron is quoted as saying in this article, is to "team up with Stoud in New York." It seems that even LeBron doubts Carmelo's ability to be part of a winning basketball team. 

Furthermore, Carmelo isn't part of this past summer's free agent class because he signed a four-year extension in 2007. Had Carmelo signed a three-year extension, he and Amar'e would be waiting on Chris Paul to join them in New York blue, and he may not have shattered his legacy in Denver. After all, in that same article by Ian Thomsen, Anthony says, "I would never go about it the way LeBron did it." Given 'Melo's desire to play in New York, one doubts this means he wouldn't have opted out of his contract if he had the choice. It's possible, though, that 'Melo wouldn't have announced his decision on ESPN (largely because he doesn't have LeBron's juice) or taken part in a seemingly too much-too soon, lavish introduction ceremony. If anything, his legacy in Denver would probably be more Bosh-in-Toronto than LeBronian. 

Kevin Pelton wrote an excellent piece on Carmelo's value to the Nuggets, and Henry Abbott drives home several key positives of 'Melo's as well. It appears that 'Melo is the prettiest girl in the class as the NBA's Prom - the Trade Deadline - inches closer. Is he an unfairly-vilified Prom Queen? It's hard to make that case when his decision to sign a four-year extension brought him to this point - he is a victim of his own decision-making. But the question is interesting.