Melo, Howard, Moore, Bird join hoops Hall of Fame

"Carmelo Anthony learned tough lessons coming of age playing basketball on playgrounds in Brooklyn and Baltimore. It culminated with him becoming one of the sports' purest scorers and most decorated players ever. Walking onto the stage for his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday to chants of "Melo! Melo," Anthony took his place alongside basketball's immortals."

"Anthony and Howard were dual-enshrinees as members of the 2008 Olympic men's basketball team that became known as the "Redeem Team," after winning gold at the Beijing Games that summer after only capturing a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 FIBA world championships. Howard and Anthony joined 2008 team members Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the late Kobe Bryant who were already enshrined as individuals."

Carmelo Anthony grew up playing on playgrounds in Brooklyn and Baltimore and developed into one of basketball's purest scorers and most decorated players. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame amid chants of "Melo! Melo," expressing emotional gratitude and describing carrying the echoes of voices that doubted him and having to "build a new road" and "write a new ending." Anthony acknowledged not winning an NBA championship while affirming what he gave to the game. The class included Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Billy Donovan, Micky Arison and Danny Crawford, and marked the first year three WNBA players were enshrined.

Read at ESPN.com