Anthony to wear No. 7 with Knicks
Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during a break in the action against the Dallas Mavericks during NBA action at the Pepsi Center. (Feb. 10, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Bernard King told Newsday last fall he'd love to see his protege, Carmelo Anthony, pull on a Knicks jersey bearing King's old number, 30. But according to a team official, Anthony has chosen to go with No. 7.
Anthony wore No. 15 with the Nuggets and at Syracuse, but that number isn't available with the Knicks because it has been twice retired for Dick McGuire and Earl Monroe.
Technically, No. 7 wasn't available either, because it was issued to Kelenna Azubuike this season. But since Azubuike has yet to dress for the Knicks, let alone enter a game, there was a loophole in NBA rules that allowed Azubuike to change numbers in midseason (as long as it was before March 1). So Azubuike will switch to No. 17 and, considering how he's improved in practice as he recovers from a ruptured patella tendon, we might even see him in that jersey soon.
