“We grew over the years. I know people joke about the banana boat, but we’re more than a banana boat. This is a true friendship.” That’s how Carmelo Anthony described his bond with Dwyane Wade—a friendship beyond the laughs and memes. Commercials have come calling, dreams of owning a team together have been in place, and defending each other’s children? Yeah, they are never shying away from that. When you have something like that in place and massive legacy-defining talks taking over, expect one to give their two cents.
April 2025 brought with it a little sweet news for Melo– he was going to be leading the Naismith Hall of Fame class of 2025. Soon enough, his jersey retirement was in talks, or more of a debate on which franchise would see his name in the rafters. For Dwyane Wade and his crew on his most recent podcast episode, this has been a well-deserved recognition for the Knicks star.
Because Melo’s been through his share of criticism over the years, fair or not, one may argue. People called him a “ball-stopper” for his isolation game. His defense? Yeah, that was another thing spectators liked to pick on, especially later in his career with the Knicks, OKC, and Houston. But here’s the thing—Melo just kept scoring. He’s got 28,289 points (10th all-time!), 10 All-Star appearances, and three Olympic golds. And now, finally, in 2025, he’s headed to the Hall of Fame. And through it all, Wade’s been right by his side. We mean through it all.
On his podcast, the Miami Heat icon didn’t hold back when it came to showing love for his longtime friend. He started by taking it all the way back to college.
“I went to his first college game… and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s the number one pick in the draft.’ I’ve never seen somebody that cold in my life.” That was the moment Wade knew Melo was different. And years later, he’s still just as in awe of his game. “When I just think about Melo game, bro, and I don’t know how you can even open your mouth to s— on a player like that. He had everything when it comes to that scoring side of that basketball. He is a threat.”
NY: 2024 Kering For Women Dinner – Arrivals Carmelo Anthony attends the 2024 Kering for Women dinner at The Pool, New York, NY, September 9, 2024. New York NY USA NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xAnthonyxBeharx Editorial use only sipausa_55821797
So while one may question his lack of rings or defense, his scoring game is to remain out of that conversation. It wasn’t just stacking up numbers either. Melo meant business when it came to baskets and Wade isn’t letting you all forget it. Backing defenders into low post. A series of fake-ups against tall guys. A turn and shoot in a mismatch. Yeah, Anthony got creative like that, recording his career low at an average of 20.8 games in his sophomore season.
Wade, who has witnessed this first hand, just cannot tolerate criticism against his close friend. ““He had the jab step series, which is one of the coldest jabs in the game… then we got the breakdown series. Now we got the hip in… You couldn’t guard him then,” he added. “One of the most skilled scorers with the basketball. Even to today, he’s one of the best basketball players that you will ever see. Great offensive rebounder, defensive rebounder.”
Melo finished his career with an average of 22.4 points. But career highlight? They are endless. Even beyond NBA. The 37-point performance against Nigeria on a 13-of-16 shooting night in 2012, for example. “Greatest single-game scoring in USA Basketball history,” Bleacher Report would write. So Wade is rightly proud of the Knicks star. Add the HoF honor to it, and no one might be standing tall than he is.
“When you get that call to say you in the Hall, that s— don’t matter no more. Right now, he is in the Hall of Fame with everybody else. He’s in basketball heaven.” Now that’s validation
So, with Wade’s words echoing the deep respect Melo has earned, it begs the question—what’s next for his legacy? Beyond the Hall of Fame, is it finally time we see his jersey hanging in the rafters too?
Carmelo’s next goal? Hanging high in Denver and New York
Talk about ambition—Melo’s not stopping at the Hall of Fame. He’s got his eyes on something even more personal: seeing his jersey raised to the rafters. “I would love to see that, man,” he told NJ.com. “Why wait? If you got to think about it, then cool, just let it be … I would like to see that jersey in both rafters, Denver and New York.” It’s not just about the honor—it’s about the chapters of his life those jerseys represent.
In New York, where he became the face of the franchise and gave the city its most electrifying moments since the ’90s, a jersey retirement feels like a lock. But in Denver, where it all started back in 2003, things get complicated. Melo’s No. 15 was the jersey of the era. But four years after he left, the Nuggets handed that same number to Nikola Jokic. Melo’s take? Classic Melo. “F— it, put both up lol,” he tweeted. “No comparisons, only respect.”
Draymond Green also weighed in on the debate, saying Melo deserves to be honored in Denver just as much as New York. “When you think of the Denver Nuggets and the baby blue jerseys, you first think of Melo… He was the person making the Denver Nuggets culturally cool,” he said. Even George Karl, Melo’s former coach, backs it now: “I have no problem retiring both Jokic and Melo’s number. They both earned it.” And Jeff Bzdelik, who coached Melo as a rookie, added, “Make No. 15 sacred.”
So, will Denver make room for both No. 15? That part’s still up in the air. But one thing’s for sure—Carmelo Anthony’s story isn’t over. He’s already sealed his legacy in the Hall, but he’s still chasing those final flowers. And through it all, Dwyane Wade’s been right there, cheering him on like only a real friend could. “No one deserves their flowers more at this point of how their career went than Carmelo Anthony.” That’s not just praise. That’s love. That’s legacy.
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