The Nuggets came within two wins of making the NBA Finals, a feat that would have matched Carmelo Anthony with fellow 2003 draft class members LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Anthony, in an interview with SLAM Magazine, says that Denver's lengthy playoff run has helped put him back on the NBA map.

"I'm back. I think the only reason I was being overlooked was because I went to the playoffs and got eliminated in the first round five straight seasons," Melo told SLAM's Lang Whitaker. "And then you see D-Wade win a Championship, then you see LeBron take his team to the Finals, and it's like, OK, where is Melo? Last year when we got to the Conference Finals, I think people realized, Melo is finally where he's supposed to be."

Anthony feels as though he's finally arrived, although he isn't sure he ever left.

"I mean, I don't like saying I'm back, because I didn't go nowhere," he added. "But I'm back, baby."