Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement from basketball on Monday morning.
Upon hearing the news, many Knicks fans lobbied online for the franchise to finally retire the homegrown favorite’s jersey. That’s hardly surprising given that he’s the best individual talent this team has seen since Patrick Ewing, but does that entitle him to that honor?
Currently hanging from the rafters of Madison Square Garden are Walt Frazier, Dirk Barnett, Earl Monroe, Dick McGuire, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Ewing.
Anthony played 6.5 years in New York, making the All-Star team each time and an All-NBA second and third team once each, averaging at least 20 points and six rebounds per night a year, leading to home Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016, finishing third in MVP voting and winner of the scoring title in 2013. He is the Knicks’ seventh all-time leading scorer and third highest in points per game and three-pointers made, but he only made the playoffs three times with just one series win.
Regardless of what the Knicks decide from here, it’s an impressive tenure that’s a fraction of a storied career. Whether or not Anthony deserves it is entirely subjective.