The SLAM Archives: SLAM 115 Featuring Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson From March of 2008

This story first appeared in SLAM 245

What beats a classic SLAM solo cover!? An iconic duo cover, for sure. Think about it: Showbiz and KG, C-Webb and White Chocolate, Shaq and Kobe—all more than 20 years old, all still rockable on a cover tee (shout out SLAM Goods!). Players tag-teaming on a SLAM cover has been popping off recently, too—even Stockton and Malone finally got their joint on the All-Star Weekend special edition earlier this year! The chemistry is tangible and the shots are unforgettable. Duo covers are sick.

The fact is that a superstar can rarely win it all alone. Let’s think some more: Kareem needed Magic, Mike needed Pip (awkward!), Bron needed Wade, Curry needed Klay. When you think of a championship team, what comes to mind is usually plural.

When the Nuggets lifted the trophy this year, the sentiment was the same. The Joker—former League MVP in 2021 and 2022—is far from a one-man show. Murray, Gordon and Porter Jr are all appropriate counterparts in nailing a solid one-two punch with Jokic. But this isn’t the first time we’ve witnessed a championship caliber duo in Denver.

Back in 2006, NBA vet Allen Iverson joined a young but established Carmelo Anthony on a fresh and exciting Nuggets squad with high aspirations. Two years later, SLAM 115 dropped. Denver’s shot at a title wasn’t too far-fetched. However, it was yet another year where Kobe Bryant had his sights set on NBA greatness and the Lakers swept the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Worse than that, the Melo and AI combination drew to a close. Of course, we wish it would’ve lasted longer, but judging by the smiles on this iconic cover, those dudes are as happy as we are that it ever even happened. Although relatively short-lived, this moment being immortalized on a SLAM cover means that it will last forever. We got another dope duo cover in our collection, and the Nuggets—eventually—got their chip.