Jokic Clarifies No. 15 Jersey Origins Amidst Anthony’s Accusations

In a recent turn of events, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has responded to Carmelo Anthony’s accusations that the team intentionally gave him the No. 15 jersey as a “petty maneuver” aimed at Anthony. Contrary to Anthony’s claims, Jokic clarified on Friday that he has worn the No. 15 jersey throughout his entire life, citing it as his choice from his hometown.

Anthony, the third overall pick by the Nuggets in 2003, wore the No. 15 jersey during his seven and a half years with the team before requesting a trade to the Knicks in 2011. The strained relationship between Anthony and the Nuggets organization has been a lingering narrative since then. Anthony made these comments on his “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast, which was published on Thursday.

According to Jokic, the assignment of the No. 15 jersey was not a simple matter of choice. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, we got numbers to choose from.’ It was like, ‘Here, you got 15,'” Anthony stated on his podcast. He further speculated, “What I believe is they gave him No. 15 to try to erase what I did.”

Jokic, a two-time league MVP and one-time NBA Finals MVP, has worn the No. 15 jersey throughout his successful career in Denver, including his time in youth basketball and the ABA League in Europe. When asked about Anthony also wearing the same number in Denver, Jokic acknowledged, “Of course. He was a great player.”

Carmelo Anthony retired in May 2023 after a remarkable 19-year career, establishing himself as one of the best scorers of his generation with an average of 22.5 points per game. The timing of Anthony’s retirement coincided with the Nuggets’ playoff run to the 2023 NBA championship.

Despite the controversy, Nuggets coach Michael Malone expressed admiration for Anthony, stating, “Carmelo is still loved throughout Denver. He wore that jersey with pride… Once a Nugget, always a Nugget. We’d love to have him around at any point in time.”