Brooklyn-born, Baltimore-raised, and forever New York’s own, Carmelo Anthony’s full-circle moment feels bigger than basketball. Earlier this month, he cemented his 19-year NBA legacy with a Hall of Fame induction, marking the end of one chapter and the start of another. And just when you thought the orange jersey defined him, Melo will show up in all-black to honor where it all began. With whispers swirling about his Knicks jersey, he chose the perfect backdrop—his home turf.
That all-black theme is now taking Melo to the gridiron spotlight. He hopped on Instagram to share the big news, posting about the Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Ravens game where he’ll serve as the Ravens’ honorary captain. In his story, he wrote, “see you Monday, @ravens.” Fittingly, the Ravens are breaking out their all-black look for their Week 3 “Darkness Falls” matchup on Sept. 22’s Monday Night Football — a uniform they’ve dominated in, going 20-6 all-time.
Alongside Melo stepping in as the honorary captain of the $6.1 billion franchise, Monday night is packed with big names and moments. Broadway talent and Baltimore native Samantha Pollino will sing the national anthem, while multi-platinum rock band Good Charlotte takes over the halftime stage. Fan favorite Michael Pierce is back as the Legend of the Game, hosting a Q&A before kickoff and getting his flowers during the matchup. The Baltimore Orioles and Pelicans center Derik Queen will also be in the building, with Torrey Smith leading a live pregame show to round out a star-studded night at M&T Bank Stadium.
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Melo’s Baltimore ties run way deeper than a quick visit. He moved to the city’s project housing at just 8 years old and quickly found his footing there. He spent three years at Towson Catholic High School, leading the squad to a ridiculous 26-3 record as a junior. That same year, he swept up honors as Baltimore’s County Player of the Year, All-Metropolitan Player of the Year, and Catholic League Player of the Year. Safe to say, the basketball bug bit him hard in Baltimore.
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But Baltimore wasn’t just the place where Melo’s hoop dreams started—it was also where he faced the harshest realities of life. Melo has talked openly about how deeply the streets shaped him. “If you are in those environments, you are going to grow up quickly, whether you want to or not,” he told The Baltimore Sun in 2021. “People used to always be like, ‘Melo, you’re not in the hood no more, man.’ To this day, I still move that way. I am still looking over [my shoulder]. I still circle the block four times. It’s just little things that stick with you from growing up in those environments.” And maybe that’s why giving back means so much to him. In 2006, Melo opened the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center in East Baltimore, creating a safe space for kids growing up in the same tough neighborhoods he once did.
And just like Carmelo Anthony never forgets Baltimore, the city hasn’t forgotten him either. Later this fall, Baltimore is rolling out the red carpet with a “House of Melo” exhibit, giving die-hard fans access to parts of his journey they’ve never seen or heard before. Opening Oct. 25 at the historic Enoch Pratt Free Library’s central location—a 350,000-square-foot Art Deco building that welcomes half a million people each year—the exhibit will showcase artifacts highlighting Anthony’s influence on culture, sports, business, and social justice. Melo himself is calling it “House of Melo HQ,” and it’ll run through late December.
“This isn’t just an exhibit—this is my story,” Melo said. “Where I’ve been, what I’ve learned and how far I’ve come. I want people to feel inspired to dream big and know it’s possible.” He added, “You can’t tell that story without Baltimore. This city raised me, challenged me and gave me the drive to grow. Now, I hope my journey can be a blueprint for others chasing theirs.” And while Baltimore may be the beginning of his story, New York will always be where he cemented his legacy.
The rumor around Melo’s No. 7 in the Garden rafters
So here we are again, back in that familiar debate: will the Knicks retire Carmelo Anthony’s No. 7 jersey? The question popped up this week on X, when a fan asked, “Do you think Melo’s number will get retired by the Knicks?” SNY’s Ian Begley didn’t mince words. “I can’t tell you that I know with 100 percent certainty that the Knicks will retire Carmelo Anthony’s number,” he said. But here’s the catch—Begley also reported there’s “strong support internally within MSG to retire Anthony’s number,” and those conversations haven’t gone away. The final call, though? That rests with owner James Dolan.
And when you stack up the numbers, Melo’s case feels undeniable. From 2011 to 2017, he poured in 10,186 points—seventh all-time in franchise history—while averaging 24.7 a night, the third-best mark the Knicks have ever seen. He played 412 games at the Garden, delivered three playoff appearances, and gave fans one unforgettable night: that 62-point explosion on January 24, 2014.
Sure, the playoff success wasn’t there—he only got past the first round once—but no one can say he didn’t carry the weight of New York basketball on his back. “You gave me more than a jersey,” Melo said during his Hall of Fame speech. “You gave me an identity… You show me what it means to carry a city on your back with grace, with grit and with love to the fans.”
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What complicates things is how it ended. His Knicks chapter wasn’t a clean break—it was messy, political, and in Melo’s words, not his choice. “Bro, I don’t understand this s—. To this day, I really don’t understand it. There’s no explanation,” he said pointing directly at the toxic Phil Jackson era.
And that’s why this jersey-retirement conversation feels bigger than numbers. The Knicks haven’t lifted a number to the rafters since Patrick Ewing’s No. 33 in 2003, but the internal push is there. Half the fanbase says Melo deserves to be next, half says no rings means no jersey. Either way, one thing’s certain—whether Dolan decides to raise No. 7 or not, Carmelo Anthony is already stitched into New York’s identity forever.