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[Saba Sports News] Carmelo Anthony shared his thoughts Saturday on the possibility of receiving one of the highest honors from the New York Knicks.
When asked about the potential of the Knicks retiring his No. 7 jersey, Anthony said he’d be thrilled—though he added that if the team has to hesitate, they might as well skip it.
“I would love to see that,” Anthony told Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “For me, it’s like, ‘Why wait?’ If you’ve got to think about it, then cool—just let it be.”
He continued, “I don’t know, to be honest with you. A lot of surprises are happening around me right now, so I’m trying to stay in the moment. If that’s one of them, I’d be ecstatic. I would love to see that jersey hung up.”
Anthony’s comments come shortly after his election to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame—a career milestone that’s sparked renewed reflection on his time in New York. Reports from two years ago indicated that some within the Knicks organization strongly support retiring Anthony’s number.
To date, the Knicks have retired the jerseys of eight players, with Patrick Ewing being the most recent honoree in 2003.
Anthony spent seven seasons with the Knicks, averaging 24.7 points per game and earning six All-Star selections during his tenure. Though team success was limited—New York never made a deep playoff run—Anthony’s impact on the franchise and its fanbase was undeniable.
Whether his résumé justifies a jersey retirement remains a topic of debate among fans and media alike. But as far as Melo is concerned, he’s not losing sleep over it—just staying present and appreciating whatever comes next.