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Lakers: Carmelo Anthony’s offensive numbers are mind-boggling

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 31: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring a three point basket against KJ Martin #6 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Staples Center on October 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 31: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring a three point basket against KJ Martin #6 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Staples Center on October 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers‘ big three consists of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook but just about every fan would tell you that the fourth “biggest” member of the team is Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony is a former all-star and All-NBA player that is undoubtedly going to be enshrined as a Hall of Famer when his career is up. The former National Champion from Syracuse has accomplished just about everything one can accomplish in basketball, with an NBA Championship ring being the one big exclusion.

Carmelo was viewed as a ring-chasing veteran who would add depth to the Lakers but would not have a massive impact on the team. With almost a tenth of the season in the books, Carmelo has blown those expectations out of the water. Carmelo hasn’t just had an impact…

Carmelo Anthony has been one of the best offensive players in the NBA thus far for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The counting numbers show a good offensive season thus far from Carmelo Anthony but elite might seem like a bit of a stretch. Carmelo is averaging 16.7 points in 27 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the field and 52.2% from beyond the arc.

Those shooting numbers are certainly elite, even if his 78.6% free-throw percentage is a bit underwhelming. Regardless, he has been the Lakers’ most consistent off-ball shooter and has transitioned his scoring prowess into being an elite catch and shoot three-point scorer.

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But is he really one of the best offensive players in the league if all he is doing is being an off-ball threat? Absolutely. Using NBA Math’s Offensive Points Added statistic we can see just that.

Carmelo leads the entire Lakers with a 15.83 OPA this season (min. 100 minutes). The next best Laker is Anthony Davis, who has an 11.96 OPA this season. Not only does that put Carmelo in front of his three all-star teammates, but it puts him in front of several elite NBA players.

Carmelo currently ranks 19th in the entire NBA in OPA this season. That puts him in an elite upper-tier that includes the likes of Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo… you get the point. Heck, he has a higher OPA this season than James Harden.

There are 229 players in the NBA who have played at least 100 minutes thus far this season. At 19, Carmelo ranks in the 95th percentile in offensive efficiency. He has been better than 95 percent of the league thus far. If that isn’t elite then I do not know what is.

Better yet, his defense has not been atrocious. While he is in the negative when it comes to Defensive Points Saved, his 11.39 Total Points Added ranks 29th in the NBA, putting him in the 87th percentile.

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Is Carmelo going to keep these numbers up for an entire season? Probably not. But if he continues to thrive in his role he can legitimately be one of the 50-most efficient players in the entire league. To get that out of a veteran minimum signing would be exceptional for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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