Carmelo Anthony Spread Some Holiday Cheers Before Christmas Matinee

Carmelo Anthony (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Before stepping on the court to take on the Boston Celtics, Carmelo Anthony helped a teenage fan with cancer step into his brand new car in the basement of Madison Square Garden.

Melo gave 17-year-old fan, Jarell Lara, a silver KIA before the Celtics-Knicks game’s tip-off today. As Anthony gave the stunned family the keys to their new car, Anne Lara, Jarell’s mother, couldn’t contain her emotions and began crying, her knees buckling as Anthony hugged the entire family and wished them a Merry Christmas.

Lara suffers from a rare form of cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. The car donation came as part of the partnership between the Knicks’ Garden of Dreams Foundation and his own Carmelo Anthony Foundation.

“This is bigger than sport, bigger than basketball,” Anthony said moments after surprising the family. “Two wonderful foundations coming together, making a family happy, making a dream come true. Giving them a day of happiness. The family, as you can see, the mom is still crying. It is a bit of a surprise. They had no idea it was coming, and I am happy that I was able to kind of make this happen.”

Carmelo Anthony almost gave the Lara family something else to cheer for. Melo scored a lay up late in the 4th quarter, as the Knicks came back from a 13 point 4th quarter hole to tie the game, with less than a minute to go in the game. Unfortunately, the Celtics beat the Knicks 119-114.  Carmelo Anthony continues  to impress me in 2016, on and off the court.