NFL superstar name drops Denver Nuggets great as childhood favorite

Patrick Mahomes (handshake emoji) Denver Nuggets, winning a championship in 2023. In June, Denver captured their first-ever NBA title, taking down the Miami Heat in five games in the NBA Finals. Four months prior, Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their second Super Bowl in four seasons.

Many years before either party was lifting trophies, the Chiefs’ superstar quarterback was growing up, admiring one of the great Nuggets — Carmelo Anthony.

Mahomes name-dropped Denver’s former star forward, during a recent chat with NBC Sports.

“I was a Carmelo Anthony fan, I was going the other way,” Mahomes said (h/t CTRL the Narrative). “Everybody was a LeBron fan so I loved LeBron but at the same time I wanted to have that guy.” Those Denver Nuggets [teams], him hitting the three-sign on the side of his head, then he goes to the [New York Knicks]. So I was a big Carmelo fan growing up.”

Should the Denver Nuggets retire Carmelo Anthony’s jersey?

This is a bit awkward now, isn’t it?

Anthony announced his retirement from professional basketball back in May.

Shortly after, Nikola Jokic — the star of today’s Denver Nuggets team — dominated in the playoffs and led the way to the franchise’s first Larry O’Brien trophy.

Jokic just so happens to wear the same number [15] as Anthony did during his time in the Mile-High City.

Melo spent seven seasons with the Nuggets after being selected third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. He was selected to four All-Star teams and four All-NBA teams. Plus, he even helped Denver reach the Western Conference Finals in 2009.

He eventually departed for New York via trade in 2011 but gave the Nuggets some of his best years. Before Jokic, he was undoubtedly the biggest star to have dawned the baby blue and gold for quite a while.

However, with Jokic’s recent dominance and success, it’s tough to imagine that No. 15 being raised to the rafters for anyone besides him.