“The reason I wore No. 15 was Carmelo Anthony. I’m a huge Carmelo Anthony fan.” DeMarcus Cousins once admitted his love and admiration for his favorite player. Throughout the years, he has stated other players as well who helped him mold his game, but Carmelo Anthony‘s name was constant. This gesture touched even the Syracuse legend and had a sweet reply for Cousins. But which qualities of the 10x All-Star stood out for Boogie?

“Obviously my number one was Carmelo Anthony.” DeMarcus Cousins spoke on the Club 520 podcast. “The way he moved with the ball like his size, the physicality, the finesse, the combination of both. You know I fell in love with it.” On multiple occasions, Boogie has called Melo his favorite player. Growing up in Alabama, there was no favorite team he could support, so instead he tried inculcating various players’ positives and one of them was Anthony.

Carmelo Anthony has been a revered scoring figure in the basketball community. Even other NBA veterans like Gilbert Arenas and Kenyon Martin have recently stated Melo’s greatness. “One of the best scorers that this game so far has seen.” In his 19-year career, the forward averaged 22.5 points per game. He was still part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team despite not winning a trophy.

Carmelo Anthony reacted to the love shown by Boogie on his podcast, “That’s nephew right there.” Melo even shared that he has been a fan of Cousins’ growth for the longest time and the career progression felt personal. “So to see that at fourth grade, fifth grade, and just see the evolution of it. I feel like that’s my son.”

When Cousins entered the league in 2010, he chose No. 15 for the Kings to honor his favorite player. Despite the mutual respect, they never got to share the court on a team as they represented the Denver Nuggets during different periods. But Cousins couldn’t wear the No. 15, not because it was retired, but because it was Nikola Jokic’s number. Which he disliked, just like Melo, who expressed his frustration with the Nuggets.

Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets’ beef

Earlier this year, Melo called the move to give Jokic the jersey “a petty maneuver“. He felt that the Denver side was trying to replace his work with the team without proper appreciation. Carmelo Anthony powered the team to playoffs during every season during his seven-year spell. Even a Western Conference finals spot in 2009.

None of the comments from the 40-year-old were towards the Serbian, but the front office. Still, Jokic clarified when asked during a press conference and stated that he had been wearing #15 for the longest time. According to The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider, Jokic wore #15 during his Mega Basket days and the association runs even deeper. During the youth team in Serbia, he chose that number because it was the biggest jersey available at the time.

Carmelo Anthony had the issue because the team gave Anthony Randolph #15 during the 2013-14 season. So the option being presented to other players rather than retiring his jersey stung Melo. Even DeMarcus Cousins felt it was a petty move from the front office and defended his favorite player’s legacy.

“Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.”