Isn’t it about time Carmelo Anthony got the full recognition he’s earned? The former New York Knicks icon, who kicked off his NBA journey with the Denver Nuggets, has already reached the pinnacle of individual achievement—induction into the Hall of Fame. That alone cements his place in basketball history. But there’s something still missing.
Something fans have been quietly expecting: jersey retirements from both the Knicks and the Nuggets. There’s already buzz around the $7.5 billion franchise that is the Knicks, but while the wait continues, Carmelo isn’t staying silent. Issuing an ultimatum of sorts in a recent interview, he said, “For me, it’s like, ‘Why wait?’ If you got to think about it then cool, just let it be.” As for the Nuggets, things have been even murkier—until now. After years of speculation, Melo has finally made his feelings known.
A recent post from Basketball Forever shared the news fans have long been waiting to hear. Carmelo wants to see his jersey hanging high in both arenas that shaped his career. “I would like to see that jersey in both rafters, Denver and New York,” he said, putting it out there loud and clear.
Well, considering his time with the Nuggets, his expectations are justified. The franchise picked him third overall in the 2003 draft, and from that moment on, Melo delivered. Eight seasons of elite-level basketball followed. Then came New York, where he brought the same fire for seven more years. So, yes, seeing his name in the rafters of Madison Square Garden and Ball Arena feels like a no-brainer.
But there’s a twist when it comes to Denver. Carmelo was traded from the team, and perhaps the trickier issue: he and Nikola Jokic both have donned No. 15. Still, should that really stand in the way of honoring a franchise legend?
Let’s not forget—Melo’s time in Denver was spectacular. He scored a whopping 13,970 points there, more than he did with the Knicks. Along the way, he picked up 6 All-Star nods, 2 All-NBA selections, and an All-Rookie First Team spot. He also led the Nuggets to the playoffs for seven straight years.
So yes, Jokic is a generational talent—but that doesn’t erase Carmelo Anthony’s legacy. If you’re thinking jersey number clashes can’t be resolved, think again. Portland retired No. 30 for both Bobby Gross and Terry Porter. The Knicks themselves did it with No. 15 for Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire. So why not Denver?
Carmelo Anthony opens up on the conundrum with Nikola Jokic
Back in the early 2000s, if you were rocking a Denver Nuggets jersey, chances are it had the No. 15 on the back—and it belonged to Carmelo Anthony. His name became almost inseparable from that number during his prime in the Mile High City. Fans packed the stands, his jersey flew off shelves, and for a while, Melo was Denver basketball.
Dec 14, 2009; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony dribbles up the court in the first period against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
But just four years after Melo moved on, the Nuggets handed that same number to a young Serbian center named Nikola Jokic. And what Jokic has done since? Well, it’s hard to ignore—three MVPs, an NBA title in 2023, and a style of play that’s changed how we think about big men in the game.
So when it’s all said and done, whose No. 15 gets the honor of being retired at Ball Arena? ESPN threw the question out on Instagram last Thursday, and Melo responded. “F— it, put both up lol,” he replied.
He doubled down, writing, “”Two different type of players. No comparisons only respect,” Anthony continued. “Put his number up there. It should never be a comparison. We don’t even have the same play style. I had my time and era, he had his.”
And with Jokic only 30 and still going strong, the Nuggets don’t have to make that decision just yet. But whenever they do, it’s shaping up to be one of the most unique jersey retirements in NBA history.
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