In the pantheon of basketball greatness, few stars burned as brilliantly and consistently as Carmelo Anthony. From the snow-dusted courts of Syracuse to the bright lights of Denver and the pressure cooker of Madison Square Garden, Melo crafted a legacy defined by that silky-smooth jumper and an uncanny ability to get buckets when it mattered most. But will that be enough for the recognition he truly seeks?

Now, the inevitable has happened. The man who mesmerized fans for nearly two decades with his offensive wizardry has taken his rightful place among the immortals in Springfield. Yet, amid the celebration of his basketball immortality, one question lingers in the minds of fans across multiple cities: Where will his jersey ultimately hang from the rafters?  Anthony once said, “I would love to see that, man. For me, it’s like, why wait? You know, it’s why wait? If you got to think about it, then cool, just let it be … I would like to see that jersey in both rafters, Denver and New York.”  But life has other plans.

Now there’s a roadblock, and the keyword here is not “where” but “if”. In a conversation with @RunItBackFDTV, shared on X,  Stefan Bondy weighed in on the Melo jersey retirement fiasco. He said, “The argument against Carmelo Anthony getting his jersey retired is Bernard King did not have his jersey retired. … They were great scorers who didn’t really have much playoff success.” bringing in the question that Bernard King did not have his jersey retired despite both being offensive stalwarts without championship or playoff success.

The obstacle stopping the jersey retirement is very similar to that of Bernard King. Who was an electrifying player for the New York Knicks. But I beg to differ. Bernard King was largely a journeyman, finding success across multiple teams. This somewhat dilutes his association with any single franchise. In contrast, Carmelo Anthony is deeply tied to just two: the Knicks and the Nuggets, where he spent the bulk of his prime.

King also spent a relatively short time in New York, 5 years to be specific, where he played only six games before being released by the Knicks. This cause is cited as the biggest reason for not retiring his jersey.

The only thing Bernard King and Anthony have in common, other than being amazing scorers, is their lack of championships. But there have been multiple instances of teams in the past retiring the jerseys of players who have graced their teams and had a profound impact. Let us see some of those instances.

Greats who have had their jerseys retired without championship success

Melo’s jersey remains unhung despite his massive 28,000+ career points. He is far from alone in basketball’s curious club of uncrowned greats. The rafters of NBA arenas tell fascinating stories of excellence that transcended championship success.

“Pistol Pete” Maravich’s wizardry with the basketball earned him three retired jerseys across different franchises despite never playing in an NBA Finals. The behind-the-back passes he made and the scoring flair he possessed revolutionized the game. Which made him a pioneer whose influence extends well beyond championship banners.

The Hawks also honored “The Human Highlight Film” Dominique Wilkins, the man whose gravity-defying dunks electrified crowds throughout the ’80s. Like Elgin Baylor before him, the Lakers legend who ironically retired months before the team finally won it all in 1972, Wilkins’ brilliance wasn’t enough to claim the ultimate prize. How do you think the fans felt then? 

Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson embodied tenacity. The Round Mound of Rebound has his number 34 hanging in two different arenas, while AI’s number 3 remains sacred in Philadelphia after his unforgettable 2001 Finals run against the Lakers. 

Remember Reggie Miller’s eight points in nine seconds against the Knicks? That clutch gene never translated to a championship, but Pacers fans wouldn’t trade his moments for anything. Similarly, Steve Nash’s revolutionary point guard play earned him two MVPs and a spot in the Suns’ rafters. Though a ring eluded him.

Perhaps most heartbreaking is John Stockton, whose pick-and-roll mastery with Karl Malone made Utah a perennial contender. The NBA’s all-time assists leader came painfully close twice, only to be denied by Jordan’s Bulls.

These legends remind us that sometimes, the journey matters more than the destination. And for Carmelo Anthony, I hope he gets his flowers one way or another. What do you think? Should iconic players without a championship have their jerseys retired?