Carmelo Anthony was an offensive artist on the court, but off it, collecting art has become his passion.
At the TIME100 Impact Dinner in New York City on Oct. 5, the Hall of Famer landed on the inaugural TIME100 art list.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Anthony shared how he got into collecting art. His personal collection has works by Ernie Barnes, Nelson Makamo and Cryptik.
“For me, it’s actually amazing to just be in this room and to be honored by TIME for something other than what I am traditionally known for,” said Anthony.
“To be carving out that lane in a whole ‘nother industry, for me, it’s just a testament to the work that we’re putting in. And to the story we’re telling, and the story we’re building,” he adds.
The former New York Knicks star emphasizes art’s central role in everyday culture.
“Naturally, our culture is art. You grow up in it, and it’s a part of you, whether it’s music, sports, or poetry. Whatever it may be, it’s art. We are naturally growing up in a certain form of art,” he says.
Anthony also shared his excitement with his family about his passion for art. Especially his children, Kiyan and Genesis
“It’s an honor that I can hang up at my mom’s house. And put up at my house, and my kids could be able to see that.”
Anthony also spoke about how he hopes to create art of his own.
“The next step is to actually start to try to visualize stories and try it,” he said.
Another one of his goals is to showcase his collection in Baltimore.
“A lot of the art that I have comes from being emotionally attached to the city, and all things that I’ve been through,” Anthony explained. “To be able to start it there would mean a lot.’