Former Nuggets Player Gets Honest About Nikola Jokic Wearing Carmelo Anthony's Number

DeMarcus Cousins spoke on Jokic wearing No. 15 for the Denver Nuggets

During a recent episode of the Bully Ball Podcast, former Denver Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins shared his thoughts on what Carmelo Anthony had to say about Nikola Jokic being given his number.

"The reason I wore No. 15 was Carmelo Anthony," Cousins said. "I'm a huge Carmelo Anthony fan. He was my favorite player growing up. I can see where he's coming from. I felt it was more so about the break up between Carmelo and the Denver Nuggets. It's on record, we all know the break up was nasty and it ended in a nasty way. Them passing the number off to the next guy, it was definitely a petty move. But to their defense, nobody expected Jokic to become this."

Did the Nuggets do Melo dirty?@Rachel__Nichols, @boogiecousins, and special guest @DarthAmin weigh-in on the latest episode of #BullyBall. pic.twitter.com/XGveykYPap

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On what Jokic has become, and how that has altered this situation, Cousins added:

"I don't think it was a plan put in place to kind of put dirt on Melo's legacy and act like what he did for Denver never happened. Did it kind of play out that way? I would say yes. And it's unfortunate when it comes to giving Melo his flowers in Denver compared to giving Jokic his. I hate to say it, Jokic has done over and beyond what Carmelo did while he was there... Is it still a slap in the face to Carmelo? 100% it is. But you just can't sit and ignore the things Jokic is doing right now in his career... When 15 goes into the rafters, it will be with Nikola Jokic next to it."

This was a nuanced take from Cousins, and one that seemed to address all sides of this discussion.

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