Anthony, 40, got the call during the week. When he saw the number was coming from Springfield, the former Knicks star knew what that meant. Days later, it was still sinking in.

Man, it was fun to watch Carmelo Anthony cook. There will be people who arch an eyebrow at Melo’s enshrinement, pointing to a résumé that not only lacks an NBA championship, but that featured just one trip beyond the second round of the playoffs in 19 seasons — when he teamed with Chauncey Billups to push the Denver Nuggets to the 2009 Western Conference finals,