Here are some NBA players whose jersey numbers should have been off-limits as soon as they left.
But their former team just gave their number away to someone else without any hesitation, disrespecting the contribution that they made towards the franchise.
Dwight Howard is the Orlando Magic's all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and minutes played. He also won three DPOY awards while playing for them and let's not forget that he took them to the NBA finals in 2009. He was the best player on the team for 8 seasons but the Magic did not wait even one season to give his number 12 to someone else, who was Tobias Harris. Given, Howard begged to be traded but that does not change the impact he had on the team.
Kyrie was a vital piece to the puzzle that helped the Cavs make three consecutive appearances to the NBA Finals. He also made one of the best shots in franchise history and of all time. Yes, his exit was messy but he still deserved to be celebrated. It was just a year after his trade that Colin Sexton snatched his number 2 jersey.
In Boston, Allen wore number 20 for 5 seasons.He helped bring them a championship in 2008 and snagged another one in 2010. But when the Celtics allowed Gordon Hayward to wear that number, fans thought the Celtics probably never had plans to retire Ray Allen's jersey. Could it be because he joined their rival, the Miami Heat afterward?
Everyone knows the Nuggets and Melo have a love-hate relationship. The hate started when Anthony publicly came out and said he wanted to be traded to the Knicks. But years passed and the boos turned into cheers whenever he visited Denver. In fact, Melo himself believes his number should be retired with the Nuggets but what can be done? The number 15 is reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic's.
Another number 15 that nobody else should have worn was Vince Carter's Raptors jersey. Yes, he also left on bad terms but what he did for the popularity of the sport in Canada is unmatched. But the Raptors still gave that number to Amir Johnson in 2009. In fact, many other plays came and donned this jersey, which is just upsetting.
Nobody is talking about the number 23, but number 45. MJ wore 45 back in the 1995 NBA season after his original number 23 had been retired temporarily when he first retired. Even 45 is iconic enough to be hanging up in the rafters since that number did its fair share of inspiring as well. Looks like the 22 games he played for the Bulls wearing this wasn't impressive enough.