A History of the Sneakers Worn During Carmelo Anthony's Best Performances

Melo history.

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Complex Original

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Easily one of the three-best offensive players in the NBA right now, Carmelo Anthony has been sitting amongst the league’s elite since his 2003 rookie season. With nine All-Star appearances under his belt, a career-average of 25.3 points per game, and an unrivaled clutch gene, Melo continues to churn out dominating performance after dominating performance.

During a cold Saturday night in mid-January, Jordan Brand hosted an intimate family dinner for No. 7 just a block away from his office at Madison Square Garden. But this was no business meeting—it was personal. Invite only is an understatement when you look at who was asked to celebrate a decade of memorable moments between Carmelo and the brand, but this should come as no surprise to anyone that knows him.

Once Anthony entered the NBA, Jordan Brand went right to work in outfitting him with retro PEs while architecting his own signature line. Drawing inspiration from past Jordans and Foamposties, the Melo line has been one of the best performing sneakers on the market for nearly a decade, and the current M10 is the latest and greatest.

Without this heritage, the ‘Pure Platinum’ colorway of the M10 that dropped Saturday wouldn’t be here. And it’s that family mentality that separates Carmelo the player from Carmelo the man. So before you dive in to the history of the sneakers Melo has worn during his best performances, watch to see what makes his legacy so special.

A History of the Sneakers Worn During Carmelo Anthony's Best Performances

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Easily one of the three-best offensive players in the NBA right now, Carmelo Anthony has been sitting amongst the league’s elite since his 2003 rookie season. With nine All-Star appearances under his belt, a career-average of 25.3 points per game, and an unrivaled clutch gene, Melo continues to churn out dominating performance after dominating performance.

During a cold Saturday night in mid-January, Jordan Brand hosted an intimate family dinner for No. 7 just a block away from his office at Madison Square Garden. But this was no business meeting—it was personal. Invite only is an understatement when you look at who was asked to celebrate a decade of memorable moments between Carmelo and the brand, but this should come as no surprise to anyone that knows him.

Once Anthony entered the NBA, Jordan Brand went right to work in outfitting him with retro PEs while architecting his own signature line. Drawing inspiration from past Jordans and Foamposties, the Melo line has been one of the best performing sneakers on the market for nearly a decade, and the current M10 is the latest and greatest.

Without this heritage, the ‘Pure Platinum’ colorway of the M10 that dropped Saturday wouldn’t be here. And it’s that family mentality that separates Carmelo the player from Carmelo the man. So before you dive in to the history of the sneakers Melo has worn during his best performances, watch to see what makes his legacy so special.

Air Jordan XII Melo PE

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Year: 2003-04
Top Performance: March 30, 2004 win vs. SuperSonics: 41 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Sneaker: Air Jordan XII Melo PE

After winning an NCAA Championship his freshman year at Syracuse, a 19-year-old Carmelo Anthony wasted no time making his mark in the NBA. Displaying his now trademark offensive arsenal, Melo became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach the 1,000-point mark. In a March contest against the Sonics, he became the second-youngest player in league history to score 40 points in a contest when he dropped a smooth 41 on the now defunct Seattle franchise. Melo’s signature line debuted in ’04 which left the window open for a collection of exclusive PE Jordans that were draped in powder blue to match the Nuggets uniforms—such as the PE XIIs he wore against the Sonics. By the end of the season, Melo led all rookies in scoring (21.0 ppg), finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, led the Nuggets in postseason scoring (the first rookie to do so since David Robinson in 1990), and was a unanimous selection for the All-Rookie team.

Air Jordan XX Melo PE

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Year: 2004-05
Top Performance: Got Milk? Rookie Challenge: 31 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Sneaker: Air Jordan XX Melo PE

Playing on a team that included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, Melo proved that he was the cream of the crop with an MVP-caliber performance during the ’05 Got Milk? Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend. For the game, Melo brought out an exclusive Jordan XX PE. With a clean powder blue and white colorway, plus an incredible attention to detail on the strap and with ‘Melo’ on the heel, the second-year pro stole the show with both his game and sneaker choice.

Air Jordan Melo 5.5 'Home'

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Year: 2005-06
Top Performance: December 27, 2005 loss vs. Sixers: 45 points, 8 rebounds
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo 5.5 ‘Home’

Inspired by the Jordan V and Jordan VI, the Melo 5.5 were the second installment of Carmelo’s signature shoe line. The sneaker may have been a tribute to the boss, but Melo’s game was anything but old-school as the third year pro was on the forefront of the NBA’s youth movement. On Dec. 27, 2005, Melo went toe-to-toe with Allen Iverson and outscored the legendary shooting guard 45-36, and established himself as one of the NBA’s top young scorers. Melo finished the season with averages of 26.5 points (8th in the NBA), 4.9 boards, and 2.7 assists per game while earning Third Team All-NBA honors.

Air Jordan Melo M3

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Air Jordan Melo M4

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Year: 2007-08
Top Performance: February 8, 2008 win vs. Wizards: 49 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M4

Already one of the most lethal scorers in the league, the 2007-08 season marked Melo’s ascendency to superstardom as he was the Western Conference’s second-leading All-Star vote getter and started his first All-Star game. Against the Wizards on Feb. 8, 2008, Melo rocked the ‘Melo M4’ and went on to post a then career-high of 49 points on a ridiculous 19-25 shooting. Melo scored his 9,000th point during the season and finished fourth in the NBA with 25.7 points per game.

The ‘Melo M4’ featured a removable neoprene ankle brace and, according to Melo, was inspired by the Foamposite—Melo’s first signature sneaker that didn’t have aspects of retro Jordans incorporated into the look.

Air Jordan Melo M5 'University Blue'

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Year: 2008-09
Top Performance: December 10, 2008 win vs. Timberwolves: 45 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M5 ‘University Blue’

The 2008-09 season was one of the more successful seasons Melo has ever had. While averaging 22.8 ppg and a career-high 37.1 percent from three-point range, Melo led the Nuggets to a 54-win season and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. On Dec. 28, 2008, Melo absolutely went off against the Timberwolves, putting together a 45-point, 11-rebound performance that included a 33-point third quarter, tying George Gervin’s NBA record for most points in a quarter.

Melo’s stellar play on-court coincided with his best signature sneaker to date with the ‘M5.’ Aesthetically, the sneaker was inspired by the Jordan XV with hints of the Air Jordan 23 (XXIII) clearly visible on the outsole detailing. Performance-wise, the ‘M5’ drew rave reviews for its lightweight, flexible design. Melo also wore the ‘M5’ en route to his first gold medal at 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Air Jordan Melo M6

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Year: 2009-10
Top Performance: April 17, 2010 WCQF Game 1 win vs. Jazz: 42 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M6

Likely disappointed with how the previous season ended, Melo came out with a vengeance and totaled 71 points in the first two games of the season. That was just the start and as the season wore on, Melo continued to show his scoring prowess on a nightly basis—including then career-high 50 points against the Knicks. Melo also earned his third All-Star appearance and led the West with 27 points and 10 boards.

Anthony led Denver to a 53-29 record and the Northwest Division title for the second straight season, leading the Nuggets to a playoff showdown with the Jazz. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Melo dropped a playoff-career high 42 points in a win over Utah. Unfortunately, the Nuggets fell short again in the playoffs and were ousted in the opening round.

On his feet, Melo rocked the “Melo M6,” his sixth signature sneaker with Jordan that featured a Zoom Air forefoot which has become a staple in the Melo line. The sneaker was built specifically with Melo’s bully-ball style of post play in mind. A somewhat bulky look had an unprecedented amount of cushioning and the Zoom Air feature provided comfort to go along with stability.

Air Jordan Melo M7

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Year: 2010-11
Top Performance: February 7, 2011 loss vs. Rockets: 50 points, 11 rebounds
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M7

Despite trade speculation, family tragedy, and the after-effects of another early exit from the playoffs, Melo still came out and dominated the competition in the 2011-12 season. He notched his first 20-20 game in November with a 20-point, 22-rebound performance against the Suns, and hit a game-winning buzzer beater against the Bulls less than three weeks later. In February, with trade rumors swirling around him, Melo tied his career-high with 50 points in a loss against the Rockets. Throughout the season, rumors of Melo to the Knicks surfaced and at the 2011 trade deadline, the superstar was moved in a blockbuster trade and a new chapter of Melo’s life and career was born in New York.

Jordan outfitted Melo in the Foamposite-inspired ‘Melo M7’ and, following the trade, the ‘Melo M7 Advance.’ While other signature lines were opting for a low-cut look, Jordan continued to equip Melo with high-top sneakers but were able to keep the shoes lightweight despite the bulkier look. Once Melo was moved to the Knicks, Jordan designer Justin Taylor created the ‘M7 Advance’ which featured Flywire technology and breath-of-fresh-air blue and orange colorway.

Air Jordan Melo M8

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Year: 2011-12
Top Performance: May 6, 2012 ECQF Game 4 win vs. Heat: 41 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M8

Melo’s first full season in New York came with heavy expectations. But a lockout, the emergence of Jeremy Lin, a coaching change, and injury problems all made Melo’s first year in Manhattan a wild ride. Still, Melo was able to lead the Knicks to their first playoff win since 2001 as the Knicks downed the Heat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. For the season, Melo earned an All-Star nod, averaged 22.6 points (sixth in the NBA), and recorded the second triple-double career of his career on April 17 against the Celtics.

For his first full season as a Knick, Melo and long-time collaborator Justin Taylor came up with the ‘Jordan Melo M8’ which coincided with Jordan’s “Fly Through” and “Choose Your Flight” campaigns. A tremendous performance sneaker that features amazing cushioning thanks to Zoom Air in the forefront and responsiveness that was specifically designed with Melo’s quick jump ability in mind. With Melo playing in a massive market, Jordan really stepped their game up and created an incredible signature sneaker for its star athlete.

Air Jordan Melo M8 Advance 'Olympic'

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2012 Summer Olympics
Top Performance: August 2, 2012 win vs. Nigeria: 37 points
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M8 Advance 'Olympic'

While Melo’s first season in New York didn’t go exactly as planned, a gold medal run in the 2012 Summer Olympics certainly helped ease the pain. Against Nigeria, Melo—wearing a fresh pair of Jordan Melo M8 Advance ‘Olympic’—hit 10 three-pointers and scored a U.S. Olympic record with 37 points in just 14 minutes.

Air Jordan Melo M8 Advance

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Year: 2012-13
Top Performance: December 11, 2012 win vs. Brooklyn: 45 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M8 Advance

The 2012-13 season was Melo’s best individual season to date. Along with leading the Knicks organization to its first playoff series win since 2000, Melo won the NBA scoring title for the first time, was named Second Team All-NBA, earned an All-Star nod, and averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game.

While Melo did most of his damage in the ‘Jordan Melo M9,’ he wore the ‘Jordan Melo M8 Advance’ when he torched the crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets for 45 points, five boards and three assists. The ‘M8 Advance’ featured a lower-cut look, Hyperfuse technology, and added stability. Like most of his signature looks, the M8 Advance featured Zoom Air in the forefoot and a Max Air unit in the heel to make it one of the top performance sneakers in the game.

Air Jordan Melo M10 'Knicks'

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Year: 2013-14
Top Performance: January 24, 2014 win vs. Bobcats: 62 points, 13 rebounds
Sneaker: Air Jordan Melo M10 ‘Knicks’

It’s been a tough year for the Knicks as they have sputtered to a 21-37 record, but the losing hasn’t been due in any part to Melo’s play. On most nights the superstar has been unstoppable and no night encompassed Melo’s scoring prowess like his 62-point performance against the Bobcats in late January. Hitting seemingly every shot that left his fingertips, Melo broke Knicks legend Bernard King’s franchise single-game scoring record with ease.

On Melo’s feet that night were the Melo M10—the best of his signature line. Employing legendary designer Tinker Hatfield to collaborate with Carmelo, the M10 features the latest in sneaker technology and is widely regarded as one of the top performing and most comfortable basketball sneakers on the market. With a similar look and feel to the Jordan XX8, the M10 features the Melo-line standard Zoom Air in the forefoot and heel but also adds the new Flight Plate technology. Not only are the M10s an incredible performance sneaker, the are aesthetically pleasing sneaker makes it the best looking of Melo’s sneaker career.

With the Knicks struggling and Melo carrying the load every single night, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Melo break his personal scoring record of 62 in the brand new Pure Platinum colorway.