Although Anthony is not easy to mess with, he plays ruthlessly, but he plays cleanly enough

On May 28, on the NBA's fierce confrontation stage, some players are known for their fierce defense, while others are known for their gorgeous offenses. And Cameron Anthony, the once super scorer who dominated the league, left his mark in the league in a unique way - he played hard enough, but also clean enough. Looking at Anthony's 19-year career, he has never been punished by the league for malicious fouls, which is rare in today's NBA.

Anthony's "ruthlessness" is famous. The Baltimore player has learned to survive in the cruel environment of street basketball since childhood. His back-to-back singles skills are perfect, and his low-level footsteps are unpredictable, which often makes defenders suffer. During the Nuggets, the "Golden Double Gun" he and Iverson made the entire league frightened. At that time, Anthony could easily score 25+ points per game, and was one of the most terrifying scorers in the league. His physical confrontation is extremely strong, and he often crushes defenders with his strong body, but strangely, he has never been called for a malicious foul for this.

This "ruthless but not dirty" style of playing comes from Anthony's understanding of basketball. In his opinion, basketball is a sport that requires the coexistence of wisdom and strength. He once said in an interview: "I play hard, but I respect the game and respect the opponent." This professional attitude has won him wide respect in the league. Even opponents who have had fierce confrontations with him, few people accuse him of being dirty in playing basketball. Kobe Bryant once commented on Anthony: "He is one of the hardest players to defend because he is strong and smart, but he never plays those small moves."

The closest moment in Anthony's career to controversy may be traced back to the massive conflict that broke out in the Nuggets' match against the Knicks on December 16, 2006. Anthony was suspended for 15 games for participating in the fight, but the league clearly stated that the punishment was because he participated in the conflict on the field, not because of a malicious foul. In fact, after this incident, Anthony paid more attention to controlling his emotions and performed more professionally on the field.

Compared with some of the stars of the same era, Anthony's "clean" record is particularly prominent. According to statistics, top stars like Dwight Howard and Dirk Nowitzki have been punished by the league for malicious fouls, but Anthony has always maintained his innocence. This is closely related to his solid basic skills and excellent basketball IQ. He doesn't need to rely on small moves to gain an advantage, because he has enough skill and physical conditions to beat his opponent. This trait of Anthony is particularly evident in the playoffs. He often faces key care and tough defenses from his opponents during his many playoff journeys in his career, but he always responds in the right way. In the 2013 playoffs, facing the close press of defensive champion Tony Allen, Anthony used a series of textbook-like back-on singles to hit back instead of using elbows or other dangerous moves to get rid of the defense. This performance has won the respect of many defensive experts, including Allen.

It is worth mentioning that Anthony's performance in the international arena also continues this feature. As a regular visitor to the American men's basketball team, he helped the team win three Olympic gold medals. Under the stricter FIBA ​​scrutiny standards, Anthony is still able to maintain a high level of performance without getting into foul trouble, which fully proves that his technical characteristics and game style are universal.

As he got older, although Anthony's competitive state declined, his respect for the game never changed. When he moved to teams such as the Thunder, Rockets, Trail Blazers and Lakers later in his career, he played more of a mentor, teaching young players how to respect the game while staying competitive. Damian Lillard, the leading star of the Trail Blazers, once said: "Merlo has taught me a lot, especially how to stay calm and professional in the fierce game. "

Anthony's professional attitude is also reflected in his reaction to referees' judgments. Unlike some stars who often complain about referees, Anthony always expresses his or her own opinions in an appropriate way even if he or she has objections to the penalty. This restraint has also won him a good reputation in the referee circle. Senior referee Joe Crawford once said: "Anthony is one of the few stars I never worried about losing control." "

In today's NBA, malicious fouls and controversial actions occur from time to time as the pace of the game accelerates and the intensity of the confrontation increases. In order to ensure the safety of players and fair game, the league has also increased the penalties for dangerous actions. In such an environment, Anthony's record of zero malicious foul punishment in his 19-year career is even more valuable. This is not only a reflection of personal professional qualities, but also a respect for the essence of basketball.

Anthony may not have won the championship in his career, but the unique record he left behind - the "ruthless but not dirty" game style undoubtedly set an example for latecomers to learn from. While pursuing victory, you do not lose respect for the game and your opponent. This is the true meaning of professional sports spirit. As he said himself: "Basketball gave me everything, and the only thing I can repay is to play in the right way." This sentence may be the best comment on his entire career.