The New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony has another Olympic gold medal to add to his collection, after the U.S. Men’s Team crushed the men’s team from Serbia, 96-66. This is Melo’s fourth appearance in the Olympics, and from the sound of his emotional interview after winning, it may have been his last appearance with Team USA.
“I know this is the end. This is it for me,” he said while fighting back tears. I committed to something. I committed to this in ‘04, I’ve seen the worst and I’ve seen the best, and I stuck with it, we stuck with it, and I’m here today, three gold medals later.”
The 32-year-old is the first member of the Team USA basketball team to have three Olympic gold medals. In Sunday night’s game (Aug. 21), he scored seven points and seven rebounds. He was also able to slide past David Robinson on the list of all-time rebounders in Olympic competition with 125 total.
“I think I’ve given enough to Team USA basketball,” he continued. “As much as I’m going to miss it, it’s time to pass it on to some of the guys that [were] on our team this year but also to the younger guys coming along, to give them an opportunity to be a part of something great. I just want to say thank you for allowing me to be a leader, not only of this team, but of our country…Despite everything that’s going on right now in our country, we got to be united.”
Watch his inspiring interview below. Congrats Team USA!