Carmelo Anthony to become owner of overseas basketball team

Nov 27, 2019; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward Carmelo Anthony (00) warms up prior to tip off against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony hopes to one day become part of an NBA ownership group. Until then, he is getting involved with ownership overseas.

The National Basketball League, which plays in Australia and New Zealand, announced Monday that Anthony will become an owner of a planned expansion team. Anthony will also serve as a global ambassador for the league’s Next Stars program, the NBL’s pre-draft pathway program which has produced the likes of LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey.

The location of Anthony’s expansion team, as well as its location, is yet to be determined.

Anthony made clear in an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he views his time in the NBL was a pathway to owning an NBA team.

“If I can get in and allow myself to start from the bottom, to understand how the business really works in another part of the world — coming back to the U.S. I already know this game,” Anthony said. “I already know this industry, this business, and I’m learning day to day. So, my goal is to help develop all over the world and then try to bring everything together where it makes sense.”

Anthony has expanded into some other business interests lately, but this is one he is clearly very passionate about. Interestingly, one of his close friends has a similar ambition, so perhaps that could be turned into a joint venture.