Carmelo Anthony Shocks NBA Fans: Inside the Rumored 2025 Comeback That’s Exploding on Google Trends

Carmelo Anthony’s post-NBA career just leveled up. Less than a year after officially retiring, the 10-time All-Star has agreed to become a weekly studio analyst for NBC Sports and Peacock when the network relaunches “NBA on NBC” in October 2025. The move positions the 40-year-old icon—already one of basketball’s most recognizable voices—at the center of a media rights renaissance that will bring the NBA back to the network that popularized the “Roundball Rock” theme in the 1990s. NBC Sports says Anthony will appear at least one night per week, joining a rotating panel of former players and veteran broadcasters to break down highlights, deliver halftime analysis, and contribute to streaming-exclusive shoulder programming on Peacock. By leveraging his 19-season résumé, Olympic pedigree, and massive social media following, NBC hopes Melo can attract both die-hard hoop heads and the younger audience that already consumes his “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast. The timing could not be better for Anthony’s personal brand. Earlier this month, multiple outlets confirmed that he has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. Formal induction in Springfield this September will cement his status alongside fellow contemporaries such as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and it gives NBC the rare opportunity to market its new analyst as a freshly minted Hall of Famer on opening night. Anthony is already embracing his expanded platform. On May 12 he returned to Syracuse University—the campus where his one-and-done heroics delivered the school’s first men’s basketball title in 2003—to give the 2025 commencement address. “Syracuse gave me a chance; now it’s your turn to create your own shot,” he told nearly 7,000 graduates inside the newly renamed JMA Wireless Dome. Clips from the speech went viral, racking up millions of views and reinforcing the forward’s reputation as a relatable mentor. For NBC, hiring Anthony is also a strategic nod to nostalgia. The network last aired NBA games in 2002, the same summer Melo starred for Team USA at the FIBA Americas Championship before becoming the No. 3 pick in the legendary 2003 draft class. Two decades later, viewers who grew up watching him in Denver, New York, Portland, and Los Angeles will now see him break down the very plays he once executed. From a ratings standpoint, the partnership is a win-win. Basketball fans hungry for fresh commentary will tune in to hear Anthony’s insights on rising stars like Victor Wembanyama, while advertisers gain a marquee name with crossover appeal in fashion, entertainment, and social justice advocacy. NBC executives are already teasing special “Melo Mondays” segments, behind-the-scenes access at Hall of Fame weekend, and interactive fan polls that tap into his 8-million-plus Instagram followers. What’s next? Anthony is expected to spend the summer splitting time between on-air rehearsals in Stamford, Connecticut, and charitable work through his Carmelo Anthony Foundation. Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies take place September 13-14 in Springfield, followed by NBC’s first national preseason broadcast three weeks later. Between the Hall of Fame spotlight, a high-profile network gig, and viral campus speeches, Carmelo Anthony’s second act is shaping up to be nearly as compelling—and just as headline-worthy—as his storied NBA career.