Iman Shumpert recalled learning an expensive lesson about money from Carmelo Anthony during his early NBA years, when a group dinner unexpectedly became his responsibility.
According to Shumpert, veteran players sometimes used real-life situations to teach younger teammates about managing money and understanding the costs that came with an NBA lifestyle.
On one occasion, Anthony allowed Shumpert to experience that lesson firsthand.
“They low key teaching you financial literacy. Teaching you what not to do. He made me pay for a dinner that was probably $7,500. We probably had about three or four teammates, driver… Melo’s wife at the time, her people. So probably about 12 to 15 people.”
Shumpert said he had no reason to expect the bill because Anthony had never previously left him responsible for paying.
But after Anthony and others departed, the restaurant brought the entire check directly to Shumpert.
“I watched Melo get up, driver got everybody, ‘Yeah, I got to take them back.’ He ain’t never left me with no check and shit. But he just left. I’m just vibing, finishing. The girl come bring that bill right to me. So I pay it. But I was low key feeling it… I’m like, do all the dinners cost this much. I’m processing it.”
The $7,500 expense caught Shumpert off guard, but he later realized Anthony had not intended to leave him permanently out of pocket.
The following day, Shumpert said he received $10,000 in cash.
“I believe the next day, shorty came and gave me 10 bands cash. He wanted me to understand if you take this many people, this type of check you looking at. You feel how that felt, because you wasn’t ready to pay it. Don’t be taking 15 people out to eat. They would make me do certain stuff and I’d be thinking like, ‘Damn, this hazing shit going too far.’ Next day you come in they bless you and make sure you straight.”
