“LeBron James did nothing when Carmelo Anthony was unemployed and nobody wanted him”: Stephen A Smith slams Lakers star for abandoning Melo

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith calls out LeBron James for not helping Carmelo Anthony back in 2018-19 when Melo had no job in the league

Carmelo Anthony signing with the LA Lakers has made the fans of the banana boat more excited than ever. This move unites Melo with LeBron James, both of whom were part of the same 2003 draft class. While talking about his recent signing with the Lakers, Melo said, “Bron just came to me one time and said, ‘Yo, the time is now. I want you. We got to make this happen,'” he added, “And I just felt like for right now, this is the best time.”

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This is the 37-year old’s best and probably last chance to win an NBA championship, the only thing missing from his Hall of Fame resume. During a recent episode of First Take, analyst Stephen A. Smith questioned King James for not teaming up with Melo earlier.

Stephen A. Smith put LeBron James on the hot seat during an episode of the First Take

In his 2 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Carmelo Anthony averaged 14.3 PPG on a 42.5% shooting from the field and 39.9% shooting from the 3-point line, coming off the bench.

However, before his stint with the Blazers, the former scoring champion was without a team in the NBA for more than a year. In 2018, the Rockets decided to part ways with Melo after playing a mere 10 games, thus leaving him without a job.

Smith didn’t let this point fly under the radar and brought it up recently on ESPN’s First Take.

“This precipitous drop-off that everybody tried to put out there about him when he couldn’t get a damn job in the league, and then he ultimately ended up being interviewed right here in this studio with me looking for a job, it was utterly ridiculous and insane that he was ever subjected to that. And what did LeBron James do at that particular moment in time? The answer would be, ‘nothing.”‘

.@stephenasmith believes Carmelo and LeBron could have been teammates sooner.

“Easily the argument could be made this is something LeBron James should have done years ago.” pic.twitter.com/PQzbOb9OE3

— First Take (@FirstTake) August 10, 2021

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Smith’s points seemed valid as Anthony’s inability to get a job in the 2018-19 season was bizarre. Many top-tier players expressed their disappointment during the time but did nothing to improve Melo’s situation.