For half the season, Carmelo Anthony was not only a bright spot for the Lakers, but arguably one of the best players on the team. “Staples Melo” was more than just a fun nickname, as he routinely knocked down a barrage of long-range efforts in front of a hometown crowd that adored him.
But as the season progressed, Staples Center changed its name and the Lakers continued to struggle, the excessive amount of minutes required of Anthony caught up with him, resulting in a rather poor finish to the year. It was a frustrating end to a story that had such a fun beginning.