Stephen A. Smith Calls Melo 'Ridiculous' Over Gold Medal Take

Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and Lisa Leslie represent the ultimate Team USA competitors. Anthony won three gold medals in four Olympic campaigns. In a prideful statement, Anthony claimed he wouldn't trade his gold medals for a single NBA championship ring.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith found the New York Knicks legend's claim "utterly ridiculous."

“I almost cried when I heard that Anthony said that. That is maybe the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard come out of his mouth, and everybody knows how much I love my man Melo. I couldn't believe he said something so utterly ridiculous. That was just ridiculous for him to say, and all it did was bring attention to the fact that a guy that I would've loved to have won an NBA championship," Smith said.

Smith, no stranger to hyperbole, surprisingly took it easy on Anthony. However, to claim not trading Olympic gold medals for an NBA championship is the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard Anthony say is still a stretch.

Anthony is a decorated Team USA legend. The former Knicks star appeared in 29 Olympic games, one more than Durant's 28. He didn't merely appear in the games; he produced at a high clip, finishing with 336 points, which is third in Team US history.

Simply trading the medals would diminish Anthony's patriotic contributions. Perhaps Anthony is at peace with his NBA career.

Related: Carmelo Anthony Sends One-Word Message to Team USA After Viral Moment at Paris Olympics

Although an NBA championship is the ultimate goal, it's not everything—ask Charles Barkley.