Ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony just dropped a truth bomb, coming out swinging in defense of Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese right before the 2026 WNBA Finals. On his show, “7PM in Brooklyn,” Melo didn’t hold back, arguing that too many fans are fixated on Reese’s swagger and totally missing the incredible player she is. It’s not “antics,” he said, “it’s passion.” And honestly, he’s spot on.
Melo Calls Out the Haters: “It’s Her Passion”
Anthony pointed out that for a lot of people, Reese’s “antics” completely overshadow her game. But he wasn’t having any of it. “It’s not antics, it’s passion. It’s her passion,” he explained. He gets that “chip that you play with” when you come from where she does, and Reese “exudes that.” Some folks might not get it, or they might take it the wrong way, but Melo is firm: it’s all about her passion. He even threw out a “Shout out to Angel. I just wanted to give her her flowers cuz that’s beautiful and a lot of people won’t give her flowers that way and it’s unfortunate and it’s f–ked up. But like let her live.” He’s basically saying what we all know: this woman plays with fire, and we should be celebrating it, not tearing it down.
Reese’s Game and Why Her Critics Are Missing the Point
Remember 2023? That’s when Angel Reese blew up during the NCAA tournament, not just becoming the Most Outstanding Player as LSU snagged a national title, but also unleashing some memorable taunts along the way. After that huge win, Reese herself broke down why she played with such intensity. She told ESPN’s Michael Voepel, “All year, I was critiqued for who I was. I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit the box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. When other people do it, and y’all don’t say nothing.” For her, it was bigger than basketball, a message “for the girls that look like me. For those that want to speak up for what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you.”
And guess what? She hasn’t changed a bit since hitting the WNBA. This season, she’s been crowned Defensive Player of the Year, and she’s adding serious team success to her game, pulling down prolific rebounds and racking up almost nightly double-doubles. The Dream absolutely swept the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty to blast their way into the Finals for the first time since 2013. Reese has been averaging a monster 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks during the postseason. Getting this far is already a massive statement about her value, proving everyone who doubted her was dead wrong.
Now, as the Dream chase that WNBA title, you just know that if she lifts that trophy, those celebrations are going to be absolutely legendary. Get ready for it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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