Background:  Carmelo Anthony is a star forward in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets. While he's only 20 years old, Carmelo has already become a basketball star and recently played in the Olympics.

Carmelo, nicknamed "Melo," was born in Brooklyn, NY, and later grew up in Baltimore, MD.  By the time he was a senior in high school, it was clear that Melo was a seriously talented player. He spent a year at the prestigious Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, where he was named a high school All-American. Melo was probably good enough to go straight to the NBA after high school, but his mom wanted him to go to college first. Melo went to Syracuse University. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four his freshman year. He joined the NBA soon after that.

Melo's book, It's Just the Beginning, talks about the struggles and success he encoutered growing up.

Learn more about Melo at his website.

RIF: How did you get to be such a good basketball player?

Carmelo Anthony: Well, believe it or not, I played basketball just for the fun of it. I played basketball, baseball, and football.  I was a big baseball fanatic. I had a growth spurt of 5 inches in high school. Until then, I never really liked basketball that much until my junior year in high school. I didn't take it that seriously. I never thought basketball would take me to the point I’m at now.

RIF: What's your favorite part about playing basketball?

CA: I played just for the fun of it as a kid. Now, I think it’s the competition, the challenges. I love challenges. I think the better the competition, the better I get.

RIF: What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

CA: It was One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss. 

RIF: What do you like to read now — books, magazines, newspapers, websites?

CA: I read a couple books a year.  The book that I'm reading now is The 48 Laws Of Power. I read magazines and newspapers as well.

RIF: You spend a lot of time on the road. Do you like to read while you're traveling? Do you trade books with other players?

CA: When I'm on the plane I try to read magazines.  Not just sports magazines, business magazines, too. I like to read the Fortune 500 magazine.  I like to check out the opportunities out there. No, I don’t trade books with players.

RIF: Where is your favorite place to read?

CA: I have a room upstairs with just a couch and a table. I go up there to read sometimes when I want to get away from everybody.  That's kind of like my meditation room, my sanctuary.

RIF: Do you like to read about sports?

CA: Sure, I like to read about sports, but I read about other things, too.