When the modern Denver Nuggets fans think of the number 15 jersey, their mind immediately goes to the 2-time MVP Nikola Jokić. The Joker has worn the #15 jersey from the day he got drafted by the Nuggets. He has achieved incredible things wearing that number, including winning the franchise’s first Championship last season. But long before the Nikola Jokić era began, legend Carmelo Anthony made the number 15 jersey famous in Denver.

Melo recently expressed his frustration about the Nuggets giving Jokic his number. But The Joker revealed the absurd reason for choosing Carmelo’s #15 jersey months before the issue came to light.

Nikola Jokić just wore the “biggest jersey”

After Carmelo Anthony revealed his thoughts about Jokic wearing his #15 jersey, a video of the 2-time MVP’s reason for choosing that number has been making the rounds on social media. “I was chubby, I was big, and #15 was the biggest jersey,” Jokic said last June during an interview with Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero. Jokic has been wearing the #15 jersey since he started playing basketball. He wears the same number when he is playing for the Serbian National team. So Jokic just “stuck with it” because only the #15 jersey fit the big man when he started playing. While many expected there to be a deeper meaning behind Jokic’s number, the reason he gave was hilarious.

The video of Jokic’s interview went viral after Carmelo Anthony blasted the Nuggets for giving his number to The Joker. “It was a petty maneuver,” Melo said during the 7 PM in Brooklyn Podcast.

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Melo also claimed the Nuggets wanted to erase his legacy with the franchise by giving his number to the 2-time MVP.

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Carmelo Anthony’s legacy in Denver

Carmelo Anthony got drafted third overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 draft class. He was a lethal scorer and had an immediate impact on the Nuggets franchise. Melo ended Denver’s 8-year playoff drought in his rookie season and became one of the biggest young stars in the NBA. Rookie Melo was so good, that he ended 2nd in the ROTY voting in 2003, second only to one LeBron James. He played 8 seasons in Denver and led the Nuggets to the playoffs each year. Anthony even took Denver to the Western Conference Finals in 2009. He played a huge role in making the Nuggets relevant again.

So, it is understandable why the legend was mad when he saw the Nuggets disrespecting his jersey number. Carmelo revealed on the podcast that he thinks his jersey should be retired by the Nuggets because of the impact he has had on that franchise. But with Nikola Jokić donning the same number and how things ended between Melo and the Nuggets, Carmelo’s wish might never come true.

Do you think Carmelo Anthony has a right to feel hard done by? Or was he just unlucky that a 42nd overall pick went on to achieve so much for the franchise?

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