After 19 seasons, NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony retires

Carmelo Anthony, the talented forward who led Syracuse to an NCAA championship in his lone collegiate season and went on to play in the NBA for 19 years, announced his retirement on Monday.

Anthony, who did not play in the NBA this season, leaves the league as the No. 9 all-time scorer.

Only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, and Shaquille O'Neal had more points in their careers than Anthony, who has 28,289 in his.

"Now the time has come for me to say goodbye ... to the game that gave me purpose and pride," Anthony said in a videotaped message announcing his decision -- one he called "bittersweet."

Anthony's legacy is well-established and he retires as one of the NBA's 75 best players, a 10-time All-Star, a former scoring champion, and a six-time All-NBA pick.

Anthony played in 31 games in four appearances at the Olympics, the most of any U.S. men's player ever. His 37 points against Nigeria in 2012 is a USA Basketball men's record at an Olympics, and his 10 3-pointers and 13-for-13 foul line effort against Argentina in 2008 are a USA Basketball men's record.

Carmelo Anthony is one of the NBA's greatest players and ambassadors of all time. He was picked third overall by Denver in 2003 and will be eligible for the class of 2026. He averaged 22.5 points per game in 19 seasons, the most of which he spent with the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks. In 2012-13, Anthony led the NBA in scoring with 28.7 points per game. He played his first seven NBA seasons in Denver, where he became the franchise's third-leading scorer.

He also spent time with Portland, Oklahoma City, and Houston before concluding his career with the Lakers last season. He retired this year and is excited to see his son Kiyan grow up.

"People ask what I believe my legacy is," Anthony said. "It's not my feats on the court that come to mind, all the awards or praise. Because my story has always been more than basketball. My legacy, my son ... I will forever continue through you. The time has come for you to carry this torch."