Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard's Most Iconic Moments
From masterful scoring to explosive dunks, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard carved out unique and unforgettable legacies in the NBA. As members of the 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and frequent opponents, their careers are examples of the possibilities of basketball greatness. Whether it was Howard's reign as a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and "Superman" in Orlando, or Anthony's silky-smooth jumper and prolific scoring that lit up arenas from Denver to New York, both players provided fans with a treasure trove of iconic moments.
Here are Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard's top moments.
Winning a National Championship at Syracuse
As a freshman at Syracuse University in 2003, Anthony led the Orange to their first and only NCAA National Championship. From the start of the NCAA Tournament, his dominance was on full display as he earned the Most Outstanding Player award for the Final Four. During the championship game against Kansas, he scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, on his way to becoming the best player in the history of Syracuse.
The 62-Point Masterpiece at Madison Square Garden
On January 24, 2014, while playing for the New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony put on a scoring clinic, pouring in a career-high 62 points against the Charlotte Bobcats. Shooting 23-of-35 from the field, Melo set a new Madison Square Garden scoring record, surpassing the legendary Bernard King. Without question, this was Anthony’s signature performance as a member of the Knicks and is widely considered the pinnacle of his scoring prowess.
The "Redeem Team" Olympic Gold
When the USA Men’s team won a bronze medal finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics, everyone knew that changes were coming. The USA Men's Basketball, aka the Redeem Team, was on a mission to restore its international dominance in 2008. As a key member of the team, Carmelo Anthony played a crucial role in securing the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Eventually, he would be the all-time Olympic scorer until his record was broken by Kevin Durant in 2024.
Game-Winning Shot Against the Chicago Bulls
On “Easter Sunday" in 2012, Carmelo Anthony tapped into his clutch gene and hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game against the top-seeded Chicago Bulls into overtime. If that wasn’t enough, he hit another incredible shot to clinch the win in the extra period. This incredible performance made him an icon in New York forever.
Passing Moses Malone for 9th All-Time Scoring
On October 25, 2021, while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Carmelo Anthony passed Hall of Famer Moses Malone to become the ninth-highest scorer in NBA history. The remarkable feat was a testament to his longevity, consistency, and dedication to the game.
Winning the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest
Establishing himself as one of the best dunkers of all time, Howard put on a show to win the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest. Donning a Superman cape, he leaped from the free-throw line for a thunderous dunk, solidifying his nickname and captivating fans with his incredible athleticism and showmanship.
Leading the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals
During the 2008-2009 season, Howard was at his pinnacle as he led the Magic to the NBA Finals. The Magic upset LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, as Howard was a beast on both sides of the ball. Although the Magic would lose to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, Howard proved that he was a force to be reckoned with
Winning Three Consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Awards
From 2009 to 2011, Howard was the undisputed best defender in the NBA, winning three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Awards. A testament to his dominance in the paint, with his relentless shot-blocker and rebounding, Howard joined Rudy Gobert, Ben Wallace, and Dikembe Mutombo (Each one won four DPOYs) as the only NBA players to win three or more DPOYs.
His 30-point, 30-rebound Game
Although back injuries robbed him of some of his athleticism, Howard turned back the clock on February 2, 2018, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets against the Brooklyn Nets. He became one of only four players in the last 40 years to achieve the rare "30/30" feat, displaying that he was still a problem in the paint.
Winning the 2020 NBA Championship
At the end of his career, Howard played for several teams in search of a championship ring. In 2020, as a key role player on the Los Angeles Lakers, his defense, rebounding, and leadership helped lead the squad to the championship over the Miami Heat in the Orlando bubble. Winning the chip capped Howard’s brilliant career.
