"You are the reason I'm standing here"- Carmelo Anthony leaves his mom teary-eyed during 2025 NBA HOF speech

After being inducted into the 2025 NBA Hall of Fame, Carmelo Anthony added another feather to his cap. The three-time Olympic champion made it to one of the most prestigious achievements in the world of sports.

During the Hall of Fame speech, the Los Angeles Lakers’ alum left his mother, Mary Anthony, teary-eyed and overwhelmed with emotions.

Carmelo Anthony’s mother becomes emotional during his HOF speech

Former NBA star Carmelo Anthony was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 6, 2025. He was inducted along with Dwight Howard and WNBA legends including Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, and Sue Bird. During the Hall of Fame speech, Carmelo Anthony paid tribute to his mother, who has stood by him through the ups and downs of his life. He said,“To my mother, Mary Anthony, you taught me that love is action, sacrifice is quiet, and faith is letting go of fear.

To everyone watching tonight, this moment is yours too. You are not behind us, you are not beside us, you are the reason we rise. You don’t just shape homes; you shape legacies.”

Anthony further added,“My mother was the first one to show me what sacrifice looks like. No spotlight, no praise, just love in its purest form. You are the reason I am standing here. The sacrifices you made, the tears you held back, I felt it every time.

You are my hero, and now as a man I see how powerful that was.”The former NBA star’s mother, Mary Anthony, was left teary-eyed and overwhelmed with emotions; she could not stop her tears. Apart from the inductees, the members of the Redeem Team, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade, were also present at the prestigious ceremony. The 41-year-old NBA star is the first male basketball athlete to secure three Olympic gold medals in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. Over his 19-year-long NBA career, he represented reputed clubs, including the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. Also Read: Michael Beasley’s misunderstood greatness gets overdue spotlight from Carmelo Anthony’s honest reflection