INDIAN WELLS — Carmelo Anthony had to think back a while for the last time he played in an outdoor basketball game.

High school? Maybe a PAL league?

The Denver Nuggets star and Team USA Olympic gold medalist was watching from the sidelines here at Indian Wells Tennis Garden when his Nuggets' squad played the first NBA outdoor game on U.S. soil against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

Although Denver's tri-captain now in his sixth season participated in pre-game warmups, coach George Karl said he would not play in the exhibition game after nursing a sore finger on his left hand this past week.

Anthony, however, was eagerly anticipating the event.

“This is an experience, coming out to Indian Wells and trying to get the fans that normally don't see NBA players — unless you're a Lakers' fan,” said Anthony, who was the Nuggets' leading scorer last season at 25.7 points per game, fourth-best in the NBA. “It's good that the NBA put something like this together. I can see this is a wonderful place and the resort we're staying at (Renaissance Esmeralda) is really nice.”

Anthony said he knew he wasn't going to play, so he walked around the resort today and came out to Indian Wells Tennis Garden to shoot around to soak in the atmosphere.

He doesn't play golf — yet — he said — and he doesn't play tennis, just watches it on TV.

But the last time he played outdoors?

“I think I was just a little kid,” he said. “I've seen a WNBA game in New York and always wondered what it would be like to play a real game, an NBA game outside. I'm pretty sure they'll explore the option (to play another game outdoors). As long as we have the same court and the same refs.”

Anthony said he's still relishing his part in Team USA's trek toward the gold medal in Beijing. He keeps his highly-coveted award under lock and key.

“It's top secret,” he says of the location of his gold medal. “It's locked up.

“It was such a great experience over there. The guys on the team came together. It was almost like being brothers out there, For 30 days — really almost two years (of preparation) — you form a bond.

“We had a lot of fans there even when we played the home team — China — we had a lot of fans.”

And while he played the role of a fan Saturday night, Anthony also got to be a fan when he was in Beijing. Some of the players attended other sports, specifically to see another “first” when Michael Phelps made good on his quest toward eight Olympic gold medals.

But has the former Syracuse star thought about London in 2012?

“I'm thinking about this (Denver) season first,” he said. “I'm excited about this season the way the team is going, the organization. We have a young team. I'm ready to put the team on my back and do what we gotta do.”