During the NFL and NBA lockouts of 2012, it seemed inconceivable that millionaires and billionaires were squabbling over more money than the average American will make in an entire lifetime, especially with the struggling economy and the unemployment rate above eight percent.

Anthony's donated more than $6 million and he's still smiling

While the amount of money athletes -- and other celebrities -- make is exorbitant, the ones that give the most to others should be commended. New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is one of those athletes. The former Syracuse Orange basketball player has made a ranking of the top 30 charitable celebrities three of the five years the Giving Back Fund has released the list.

The Giving Back Fund is a non-profit that, according to its website, "highlight(s) philanthropic role models, promote best practices, and help to foster a strong and dynamic philanthropic community with an emphasis on the sports and entertainment industries." 

Anthony was the 22nd on the list for 2011 and the only NBA player listed with a $837,200 gift to the Carmelo Anthony Foundation. The foundation in turn gave a $500,000 grant to Syracuse University and 302,000 to the Living Classroom Foundation. 

Anthony was 13th on the 2010 list which came out when he was a member of the Denver Nuggets. He gave $1,066,037 to his foundation which again gave grants to Syracuse and the Living Classroom Foundation in Maryland. 

Finally, Anthony was the 2007 list's No. 7 giver after a $4,282,000 contribution towards a youth recreation center in Baltimore, a Syracuse recreation center and other charities.

Giving money to charity does not automatically make you a good person and there is no doubt Anthony can afford these donations after his salary/endorsements have made him a wealthy man. Still, he should be applauded for consistently giving and setting a good example for professional athletes around the world.