Carmelo Anthony, a member of the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame, has been visiting Puerto Rico for over two decades, since his first trip in 2002 to practice with the Leones de Ponce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Anthony's visits to the island have been driven by a personal goal to understand his Puerto Rican roots and define who he is, as his father, Carmelo Iriarte, was from Ponce and passed away when Anthony was just two years old. In an interview with Primera Hora, Anthony shared that he loves being in Puerto Rico and feels like he learns something new every time he visits.
He has been trying to build a better image of his father through stories from his mother, sisters, family, and friends, and his own research. Anthony has also been involved in community work through his foundation and has played basketball on the island. During his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2025, Anthony paid an emotional tribute to his father, saying that although he left too soon, he never abandoned him and that he grew up thanks to him.
Anthony's connection to Puerto Rico is deeply personal and driven by his desire to understand his heritage.