When Carmelo Anthony was drafted third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2003, the 19-year-old was going from a Syracuse squad that he had just led to a National Title, to arguably the worst team in the NBA. Before Melo got there, the Nuggets hadn’t made the playoffs since 1995 and during that span had won more than 35 games in a season just once.
In 1998, they won just 11 games, and in 2003 their 17 wins set them up with the lottery pick that would change the franchise’s fortunes. Melo’s arrival signaled a new age for the Nuggets, one where playoff berths would become the norm.