After being selected third in the 2003 draft, Carmelo Anthony has had his share of ups and downs during his five seasons with the Nuggets:
December 2003 Starts the annual “A Very Melo Christmas Party” at the Cross Community Coalition Family Resource Center in Denver. Also gives $30,000 to Family Resource Centers, a statewide organization.
April 2004 Finishes first season on all-rookie first team and is second to LeBron James in rookie of year voting. Leads rookies in scoring, averaging 21.0 ppg.
May 2004 Hundreds of fans at a charity game were told as the game ended that Anthony would sign T-shirts. Anthony signed briefly before leaving the court. He apologized and held a free autograph session in June at the Pepsi Center.
Summer 2004 Publishes children’s book called “It’s Just the Beginning.”
August 2004 On Team USA team that won the bronze medal at the Athens Olympics, but clashes with head coach Larry Brown.
Sept. 2004 Was involved in an altercation at a New York nightclub after rapper Sugar Jay spit a drink in the face of Anthony’s then-girlfriend, LaLa Vasquez.
October 2004 Marijuana found in his backpack at DIA before boarding a team flight, but a friend later said it was his, and charges against Anthony were dropped.
December 2004 News comes out about Anthony’s brief appearance in the DVD “Stop Snitching.” He doesn’t say anything pertaining to drug dealing or violence in Baltimore but did say he “threw his (Olympic bronze medal) into a lake.”
January 2005 Establishes the “Carmelo Anthony Foundation” as a way to donate to organizations in Denver and Baltimore.
May 2005 Anthony at a news conference about anti-violence initiative for Maryland’s Hype Vs. Reality project with Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. July 2005 Starts 3-on-3 tournament in Baltimore named the H.O.O.D. Movement.
August 2005 Hosts 450 kids for the inaugural Carmelo Anthony basketball camp at the Gold Crown Field House.
July 2006 His roommate and childhood friend Tyler Smith, driving a car registered to Melo Enterprises, is arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession in Lochbuie.
November 2006 Anthony donates $3 million to Syracuse University for the construction of a basketball practice facility for the men’s and women’s programs.
December 2006 Opens Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center in Baltimore after donating nearly $1.5 million.
December 2006 Suspended 15 games and fined nearly $780,000 for throwing punch in melee with the New York Knicks.
January 2007 Was chosen as USA Basketball’s male athlete of the year after his performance at the world championships.
January 2007 The Giving Back Fund ranked him eighth in the 2006 “Giving Back 30” report about celebrities in America. He donated an estimated $4.3 million in 2006.
February 2007 Plays in his first All-Star Game after being picked as a reserve. Had 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
April 2007 Finished his statistically best regular season, in which he averaged 28.9 points per game, second in the NBA.
January 2008 Voted by fans as all-star starter for first time. Scores 18 points.
April 2008 Two days before season finale, he is arrested in the morning hours and charged with DUI. In June, he pleaded to driving while ability impaired, drawing fines and one-year probation.
August 2008 Plays strong defense for Team USA in winning gold at Beijing Olympics. Has 13 points in championship game.
October 2008 Will miss first two games of season as punishment for April arrest.
