"Is that thing on Carmelo Anthony's head real?" If you've asked this upon seeing the above image, the answer is yes. That is a cartoonish apparatus or doohickey of some sort that's functioning at the same capacity as a hat upon Anthony's cranium.
After you let what you're seeing here sink in, do consider how this could be a brilliant strategy. Because he came out looking like the Count of Monte Scrubtown, we aren't focusing on the poor stats on the bottom of that screen: 19 points on a poor 5-for-20 shooting night. Melo certainly didn't have The Juice during Friday's 110-99 loss against the Nets. At least the Knicks' shortcomings aren't the topic of discussion, though.
"But he still looks completely ridiculous!" If that's your retort, then...well, there is not comeback for that. How ridiculous? Well...