Carmelo Anthony, Hassan Whiteside show why NBA should return Comeback Player of the Year award

The NBA has long been considered a global hub for redemption stories. This year, Carmelo Anthony and the Portland Trail Blazers would have given them plenty of chances to showcase that through an award.

Before we even begin to entertain semantics and statistics, ponder over these two quotes:

"“For the obvious reason that he is no longer a good NBA player. Carmelo Anthony’s had a lauded career as one of the league’s best scorers, but there’s little trace of that form of himself left … (continued). Anthony might need to sit on the sidelines for a few months before someone can convince themselves he’s worth another try.And he might need to consider the idea that nobody will reach that point again.– Matt Ellentuck, SB Nation"

And then, this one.

"“Whiteside’s once-hailed defensive prowess is only a shadow of what it once was, no longer the ruthless shot-blocking intimidator that led the league in rejections and even put up a triple-double with blocks in the mix.His conditioning, heart, and overall desire to play have been questioned throughout the season, including his commitment to the game, which hasn’t been the same since the year after receiving the long-term deal that changed his life.”– Bruno Manrique, ClutchPoints"

Even as of this very minute, the NBA hasn’t strayed far away from its “what have you done for me lately” mentality. But these aren’t sentiments written about stars after a bad game or two. These are full-on career eulogies; statements directed at players who, if the fat lady hasn’t already sung on behalf of their careers, she was certainly warming up her vocals.

Let the record show, the two players in those aforementioned quotes — Carmelo Anthony and Hassan Whiteside, if you haven’t already figured it out — went on to play the No. 3 and No. 4 most minutes for a Playoff contending Portland Trail Blazers team. And while neither of them are of All-Star or All-NBA quality, there’s a now-defunct award that would have encapsulated their 2019-20 seasons perfectly.

It’s been quite some time since the NBA last rewarded a player with the Comeback Player of the Year Award. 1985-86, to be exact, with Marques Johnson of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Apparently, the NBA worried about the negative connotation associated with the title of the award, which gave off the idea that a player needed to return from a season-threatening injury or suspension from substance abuse to win the award, forcing them to revisit their past.

But what about players exiled from the Association altogether, or written off as shells of themselves?

After Whiteside was benched for a more modern NBA-centric big during Miami’s 2018 postseason, and Carmelo Anthony became vilified for rocking the boat for a starting lineup spot, it appeared their days as those types of guys were all but over.

Fast forward to today, and they’ve become a part of one of the NBA’s elite 5-man lineups. The lineup of Whiteside, Anthony, Ariza, McCollum, and Lillard produced a net rating of +5.66. That ranks 20th in the league among 5-man groups with at least 200 minutes played together.

There would have certainly been some competition, if that were an actual award worth coveting. NBA.com’s Josh Cohen threw out a few names, ranging from Michael Carter-Williams to Derrick Rose to Gordon Hayward. And even though those the Portland Trail Blazers may have had a difficult time winning, a more widespread celebration of their saga could have come about.

The NBA, at its root is always thinking about the “story.” Its mantra remains, “Where Amazing Happens.” And this year, it reverted to an old-school form, by announcing that it would recognize award winners during the Playoffs. Why not go older than old school and return one of its once invigorating awards — the Comeback Player of the Year?