A jersey number has sparked a generational debate in Denver. Former Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony recently voiced frustration over the team’s decision to assign his iconic No. 15 jersey to current franchise centerpiece Nikola Jokić, suggesting it was a deliberate move to erase his legacy. Jokić, however, responded with a simple and sincere explanation: he’s worn No. 15 his entire life.
During an appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Anthony didn’t hold back.
“It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, we got numbers to choose from.’ It was like, ‘Here, you got 15,’” he said. “Y’all put Jokić in the middle of that. He don’t know what the f— is going on… What I believe is that they gave him 15 to try to erase what I did”.
when Carmelo Anthony said that the nuggets giving Jokić #15 was a “petty maneuver” then Jokic responds by saying he has wore #15 his whole life. pic.twitter.com/cQp98GDf90
— jokic mid range 🃏🎸 (@15notdone) August 15, 2025
Anthony, who played eight seasons in Denver after being drafted third overall in 2003, was a six-time All-Star with the team and led them to the Western Conference Finals in 2009. Despite his impact, the Nuggets have not retired his jersey, and his departure via trade to the Knicks left lingering tension with fans and the organization.
“When you think of 15 in Denver now, to this generation, you think Joker,” Anthony added. “And there’s nothing towards that. It’s just, it was two different generations.”
Jokić, known for his humility and dry humor, addressed the controversy in a resurfaced interview:
“I was chubby, I was big, and No. 15 was the biggest jersey,” he said,
explaining that he’s worn the number since childhood simply because it fit him. He’s continued to wear it for both the Nuggets and the Serbian national team.
There was no tribute, no symbolism, just continuity.
“I just stuck with it,” Jokić said.
While Anthony helped revive the Nuggets in the 2000s, Jokić has taken the franchise to unprecedented heights. Two MVPs, a Finals MVP, and the team’s first-ever NBA championship. For many fans, No. 15 now evokes images of Jokić’s no-look passes and triple-doubles rather than Anthony’s midrange mastery.
Still, the debate raises valid questions: Should the Nuggets have retired Anthony’s jersey before reassigning it? Was the transition handled with enough respect for the past?
In the end, No. 15 may symbolize more than just a number; it’s a thread connecting two eras of Denver basketball. Whether fans lean toward Melo’s scoring brilliance or Jokić’s all-around dominance, both players have left indelible marks on the franchise.
