Carmelo Anthony is one step closer to Springfield.

The former Nuggets star was among the 17 former players, coaches and contributors named on Friday as finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s class of 2025. The class of 2025 will be announced at the NCAA Men’s Final Four on April 5. Enshrinement weekend is set to start Sept. 5.

After winning the NCAA championship in his lone year at Syracuse, Anthony was selected by the Nuggets with the third pick of the 2003 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-7 forward established himself as one of the league’s most lethal scorers in parts of eight seasons in Denver. He finished second to LeBron James in the 2004 Rookie of the Year vote and went on to represent the Nuggets in four All-Star Games and earned All-NBA honors four times before he was traded.

Anthony averaged 24.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, while shooting 46% from the field with the Nuggets. He went on to play for the Knicks, Trail Blazers, Thunder, Lakers and Rockets before his career ended in 2022. He announced his retirement on social media in 2023.

Anthony ended his career with 10 All-Star selections, six All-NBA selections and one scoring title. He was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team and won Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

The relationship between Anthony and the team that drafted him, has been a rocky one. Anthony claimed last year he never requested Denver to trade him, something his former coach George Karl disputed on social media. Anthony has also claimed the Nuggets allowing Nikola Jokic to wear No. 15 was a sign of disrespect, even though Jokic wasn’t the first to wear the number after Anthony’s exit.

Denver took the high road Friday, posting a congratulatory message on social media.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame finalists

2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team

Carmelo Anthony (Player)

Micky Arison (Contributor)

Jennifer Azzi (Player)

Sue Bird (Player)

Molly Bolin (Player)

Tal Brody (Contributor)

Danny Crawford (Referee)

Billy Donovan (Coach)

Mark Few (Coach)

Sylvia Fowles (Player)

Dwight Howard (Player)

Dušan Ivković (Coach)

Marques Johnson (Player)

Maya Moore (Player)

Jerry Welsh (Coach)

Buck Williams (Player)