Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony delve into Melo's upbringing in Brooklyn and Baltimore, his friendship with LeBron, and getting stranded at Oak Hill. They discuss music influences, Puerto Rican heritage, and emotional reflections on missing out on the Olympics. Melo shares his tumultuous high school journey, struggles with attendance, and transitioning to sponsor promotions.
Carmelo Anthony's early love for art and music shaped his perspective and experiences growing up in Brooklyn and Baltimore.
As a young father, Carmelo Anthony aimed to provide the support and guidance he lacked, projecting his own experiences onto his son.
The pivotal transfer from Towson Catholic to Oak Hill Academy marked a turning point in Carmelo Anthony's high school journey, setting the stage for his future success in basketball.
Deep dives
Early Childhood and Love for Art and Music
As a child, Carmelo Anthony, also known as "Mellow," grew up in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Baltimore. He had a love for drawing, graffiti, and art, often getting in trouble for drawing on desks. He was also passionate about music, particularly artists like Rakim and Biz Markie. The music spoke to him and reflected his experiences and surroundings. Music became a significant backdrop to his life and influenced his perspective.
Fatherhood and Filling the Void
When Carmelo became a father to his son Kyan at a young age, he filled the void of not having a father figure in his life and projected the experiences and support he wished he had received. He saw Kyan as his 'Black My Buddy,' someone he could be a big brother to. Carmelo wanted to provide the love, support, and guidance that he missed growing up, and ensure that Kyan had the foundation, morals, and standards necessary to navigate the world.
High School Journey and Forced Transfer
Carmelo attended Towson Catholic High School in Baltimore, but due to issues with his transcript, he was forced to transfer to Oak Hill Academy. He initially resisted the transfer, feeling that he didn't need to go to Oak Hill. However, his transcript complications and conflicts with the rules at Towson Catholic led to his departure. This marked a pivotal point in his high school journey and set the stage for his future success in basketball.
Meeting LeBron at USA Basketball Camp
The podcast episode begins with Carmelo Anthony sharing the story of how he first met LeBron James at a USA Basketball camp. They quickly connected and bonded over their similar backgrounds and aspirations. Despite their age difference, they formed a genuine friendship during the camp.
The Highly Anticipated Oak Hill vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary Game
The podcast delves into the buildup and excitement surrounding the highly anticipated game between Carmelo's Oak Hill Academy and LeBron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. The game, which received a lot of media attention and was televised, marked the first significant meeting between the two future NBA stars. The podcast discusses the significance of the game in their respective journeys and the impact it had on their friendship.
On Part 1 of Episode 5, Dwyane sits down with his close friend, and 10-time NBA All-Star, Carmelo Anthony for an intimate conversation. They cover Melo's family and childhood growing up in Brooklyn and Baltimore, how he learned about his late father's interesting life, becoming friends with LeBron in high school and why Melo got stranded at Oak Hill.