Carmelo Anthony Delivers Heartfelt Commencement Speech At Syracuse University

Carmelo Anthony made his mark at Syracuse University over two decades ago he returned to his old stomping grounds to deliver this year’s commencement speech and share some words of wisdom as students prepare to embark on the next chapter in their lives.You’ve went through and you’ve been through a global pandemic, social unrest, uncertainty about the world, and yet, here you are. Stronger, smarter, more resilient than ever,” he told a sea of graduates on Sunday, “Well, let me tell you something that I’ve learned since leaving Syracuse: your path won’t be a straight line and that’s okay. The 10x NBA All-Star spoke about his own non-linear life journey, emphasizing the importance of never placing limits on yourself. “When I left for the NBA, I thought basketball would be my whole story, but life had other plans. I found myself drawn to other passions, business, philanthropy, storytelling. I became an entrepreneur. I started a podcast. I stepped into boardrooms and took conversations about culture, ownership, equity, and I realized that I was more than just an athlete. And so are you, more than just more major, more than just your resume, more than others expect you to be,” he continued. The NYC native left students with an encouraging message to keep as they depart from Cuse’s campus and into the post-grad world. “You don’t have to fit in a box. You can have multiple careers, change directions you can evolve again and again, as long as you keep chasing what sets your soul on fire,” he concluded. The motivational moment was full-circle in more ways than one. In the fall, Carmelo’s 18-year-old son, Kiyan, will be stepping onto campus for his freshman year. The young talent will be training at the athletic facility named after his dad, the Carmelo Anthony Basketball Center, and playing against other top schools in the JMA Wireless Dome, formerly named the Carrier Dome.

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