Rudy Gay shares why Carmelo Anthony chose to play Syracuse: "They play zone. They don't got to play no defense"

Few players ever to touch a basketball have been more gifted scorers than Carmelo Anthony . The now-retired 19-year NBA veteran has 28,289 career points to his name, which ranks him 10th all-time and just a few hundred points back of someone who is widely regarded as the most dominant player in league history in Shaquille O'Neal .

However, while Anthony was a flat-out brilliant offensive weapon dating back to before his days in the NBA, he wasn't recognized as a two-way player. Melo was never selected to an All-Defensive Team during his stint in the NBA, so he was never an elite player on that side of the ball in the pros like he was on offense.

Gay reveals why Anthony chose Syracuse

Former Memphis Grizzlies star Rudy Gay said Anthony decided to play college basketball at Syracuse University because the team is known for playing zone defense. This meant that Melo would not be relied on to play defense as much as he would at another school that plays man-to-man.

"I don't think he ever told you, but I used to pick his brain all the time. Like, 'What Melo was working on, man? For real, what school is he going to?' He was like, 'He going to Syracuse.' I was like, 'Why is he going there?' He said, 'They play zone. They don't get to play no defense.' So I'm like, 'Oh, okay. Cool, cool.' So I'm thinking the whole time like, 'S***, I ain't trying to play no defense either,'" Gay said .

This is quite an interesting view by Rudy, who was known as a good defender during his college and professional career. As he played for UConn, he was well aware of how their arch-rival played on both sides of the floor.

Anthony played solid defense in college

Carmelo wasn't one of the top defensive players in the nation by any stretch during his short stint at Syracuse, but he put up rock-solid numbers on the less glamorous end of the floor.

Across 35 games played with the Orange during the 2002-03 season, he averaged 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per contest. Furthermore, he totaled two or more steals in four of the six NCAA Tournament games he played with the team.

Anthony's scoring ability ultimately led the Orange to the NCAA title that season. Despite having a reputation as a lackluster defender, he was certainly an impactful player on that end at the collegiate level.

Related: "I'ma get good enough so I can tell a n**** he can't sub me out" - Rudy Gay shares how Carmelo Anthony motivated him to get better