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NBA: Predicting the next jersey number to be retired by all 30 teams

By Manolis Olandezos

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Former Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki looks on with his wife, Jessica Olsson, as the Dallas Mavericks raise a banner while retiring his No. 41 jersey at American Airlines Center on January 05, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Former Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki looks on with his wife, Jessica Olsson, as the Dallas Mavericks raise a banner while retiring his No. 41 jersey at American Airlines Center on January 05, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) greets fans after the game against the Charlotte Hornets Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets – #15 for Carmelo Anthony AND Nikola Jokic

The New York Knicks retired number 15 for two players – Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Dick McGuire. Will the Nuggets do the same?

Carmelo Anthony helped make the Nuggets competitive when he arrived in Denver in 2003. He was a five-time NBA All-Star in a Nuggets uniform and averaged 24.8 points in 564 games in Denver. Anthony still ranks in the top-5 in the Nuggets’ history in many offensive categories.

Nikola Jokic just won his first NBA championship and Finals MVP award. The two-time league MVP is already the Nuggets’ career leader in assists and will surely become the franchise leader in many categories by the time his playing career in Denver is up.

Jokic is a shoo-in here, but don’t be surprised if the Nuggets honor ‘Melo too.

Other Players in Consideration: None

Detroit Pistons – Grant Hill, #33

I’m not sure how Pistons fans feel about this or if this will actually happen. Besides, the team has already retired the numbers of all other deserving players in its franchise history.

People forget that Grant Hill was THAT dude while in Detroit. Hill was a five-time NBA All-Star and one of the league’s best players while wearing a Pistons uniform. He wasn’t just on his way to becoming a Hall-of-Famer.  Hill was on a trajectory to become one of the league’s all-time greats.

Grant Hill left Detroit in 2000 but still ranks in the top 10 in Pistons history in several categories.

Other Players in Consideration: Andre Drummond, John Long, Tayshaun Prince