Getting selected third in the NBA Draft and becoming the third-most collected player in your class isn't bad. That's especially true when the class in question is from the loaded 2003-04 season and your name happens to be Carmelo Anthony.
While third is nothing to sneeze at, Anthony is used to being first, as he led Syracuse to a national championship in his one and only season playing college hoops. There was no question that teen sensation LeBron James was going first overall in 2003, but many observers were surprised when Darko Milicic went second to Detroit, allowing Anthony to fall to Denver.
The Pistons' loss was the Nuggets' gain. In just four seasons, Anthony has become one of the NBA's top scorers. He's also transformed Denver from a lottery team to a perennial playoff participant, though he's so far been unable to lead them into true contention for a championship.
James and Miami Heat dynamo Dwyane Wade continue to top want lists when it comes to the class of 2003-04, but Anthony has become a big name among basketball card collectors in his own right. Card companies have made sure that anyone who wants one of Carmelo's rookie cards can find one, creating over 40 different RCs.
The crown jewel of Anthony rookies is undoubtedly his Exquisite Collection # 76, an autographed patch card with a print run of just 99 copies. Collectors looking for something a little less expensive can still get a signed jersey rookie like his Bowman Signature Edition # 77 for a fraction of the price.
Carmelo Anthony 2003-04 Rookie Cards
- Black Diamond # 186
- Bowman # 140
- Bowman Chrome # 140
- Bowman Signature Edition # 77 - autographed jersey card #'d to 1170
- E-X # 73
- Exquisite Collection # 76 - autographed patch card #'d to 99
- Finest # 163 - autographed, #'d to 999
- Flair # 104 - #'d to 500
- Flair Final Edition # 83 - #'d to 799
- Fleer Authentix # 101 - #'d to 1250
- Fleer Avant # 67 - #'d to 699
- Fleer Focus # 121 - #'d to 499
- Fleer Genuine Insider # 101 - #'d to 499
- Fleer Mystique # 108 - #'d to 999
- Fleer Patchworks # 91 - #'d to 799
- Fleer Platinum # 194 - #'d to 500
- Fleer Showcase # 120 - #'d to 1000
- Fleer Tradition # 263
- Hoops Hot Prospects # 95 - autographed jersey card #'d to 400
- Skybox Autographics # 55 - #'d to 1500
- Skybox LE # 122 - #'d to 99
- SP Authentic # 150 - autographed, #'d to 500
- SP Game Used # 109 - #'d to 999
- SP Signature Edition # 103 - #'d to 499
- SPx # 153 - autographed jersey card #'d to 750
- Topps # 223
- Topps Bazooka # 240
- Topps Chrome # 113
- Topps Contemporary Collection # 22 - autographed, #'d to 499
- Topps Jersey Edition # CA - jersey card
- Topps Pristine # 107
- UD Glass # 98 - #'d to 250
- Ultimate Collection # 129 - autographed, #'d to 250
- Ultra # 173 - #'d to 500
- Upper Deck # 303
- Upper Deck Finite # 240 - #'d to 200
- Upper Deck Hardcourt # 130 - #'d to 799
- Upper Deck Honor Roll # 108 - jersey card #'d to 499
- Upper Deck Legends # 133 - #'d to 999
- Upper Deck MVP # 203
- Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives # 3
- Upper Deck Standing O # 87
- Upper Deck Sweet Shot # 93 - #'d to 799
- Upper Deck Triple Dimensions # 130 - #'d to 999
- Upper Deck Victory # 103