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Carmelo Anthony talks about National Player of the Year going to TJ Ford

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Former Syracuse Orange player Carmelo Anthony (C) receives his jersey from athletic director Daryl Gross (L) as his number is retired during a ceremony at half time during the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2013 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Nate Shron/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Former Syracuse Orange player Carmelo Anthony (C) receives his jersey from athletic director Daryl Gross (L) as his number is retired during a ceremony at half time during the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2013 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Nate Shron/Getty Images)

On Uninterrupted’s recent WRTS show, Carmelo Anthony describes his disappointment as TJ Ford is named National College Player of the year instead of him.

Carmelo Anthony had one of the greatest NCAA college careers ever in his one year playing for Syracuse. On a recent appearance on Uninterrupted’s WRTS: After Party show, the Portland Trail Blazers forward talked about how he ‘ got the heads up ‘ prior to the NCAA tournament that T.J. Ford of Texas had been given the award.

Longtime partner of LeBron James: Maverick Carter was also a guest on the show, and he asked Melo if Ford winning had lit a fire under him. Melo obviously had one of the greatest NCAA tournament runs of all-time as Syracuse won a National title with the six-foot-nine forward as their number one guy.

Melo commented on how at the time the NCAA said they didn’t give the award to freshman.

Though he didn’t comment on whether this did light a fire under him or not, you only need to take a look back at his stats from the 2003 March Madness to see that this did inspire him, and what an incredible run it was.

In the tournament Melo averaged 20.1 points and 9.8 rebounds with 1.8 steals while shooting 47 percent from the field and from three. In the final itself, Melo had 20 points and 10 rebounds with 7 assists as he lifted the title in a 81 – 78 win over Kansas.

This sensational run resulted in Melo being drafted third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.

In answering the host’s question over awards that he and other guest, Ex-WNBA player Sue Bird had missed out on, Melo also talked about how he missed out on the rookie of the year award to longtime friend LeBron James.

LeBron won the award even though Melo won Rookie of the Month every month of the season. Melo also had more points and rebounds and was more efficient from the field. Amazingly, Melo also led his team back to the playoffs while also leading them in scoring.

Pretty tough pill to swallow for him.

It was great to get a bit of an insight into the great Carmelo Anthony with no current NBA action to watch, the Uninterrupted platform has been pumping out regular shows with past and present WNBA and NBA stars since the NBA hiatus began.

TJ Ford may have won the National Player of the year at the time, but we all know who had the better college career in the end.