HOUSTON — Carmelo Anthony was the first player Jerry Colangelo talked to about joining a new U.S. national basketball team program. Now, he’s the last one standing.

An Olympic career that started miserably is still going 12 years later, so long that some of Anthony’s teammates were middle schoolers when it began. He will become the first U.S. man to play in four Olympics, and if the Americans medal he will leave Rio de Janeiro as the most decorated men’s basketball player ever.

“He’s going to be the leader of this team along with (Kevin Durant). And to have somebody who, this will be his fourth Olympics, that level of experience — and he’s still a great player — and commitment, it’s a godsend, really,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “He’ll be one of key factors in us attempting to win the gold medal.”

Anthony already owns two of those, along with a bronze. He figures to shatter many of the U.S. records he doesn’t already own, and even Michael Jordan and LeBron James should be looking up at Anthony on the team’s scoring list before the end of the Rio Games.

The Knicks’ All-Star considered not playing but was urged to return by U.S. assistant Jim Boeheim.