PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 23: Brandon Roy
Brandon Roy has allowed Carmelo Anthony to take No. 7, if he wants to.
The Portland Trail Blazers hold the No. 7 in the highest regard, as former stud Brandon Roy sported that number before injuries ended what could’ve been an amazing career. While that reverence for No. 7 forced Carmelo Anthony to choose the unsightly No. 00 for his initial campaign under Terry Stotts, Roy seems more than willing to let Carmelo use the same number he sported in New York and Oklahoma City.
Roy has given Anthony his blessing to wear No. 7 as long as he’s in Portland, with Roy saying he would be “honored” if Melo started balling in his old number.
Carmelo will have a lot to live up to after taking Brandon Roy’s number
Roy was a beloved figure in Portland, as the native son of the Pacific Northwest starred in at Washington before ending up as a Blazer after the 2006 NBA Draft. While Roy won Rookie of the Year in addition to making three All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams in his first four seasons, injuries crippled him, forcing him to retire at age 28.
Anthony found a home in Portland after being tossed aside by the Houston Rockets. While he found a home as a tertiary wing scorer next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, he could easily find himself leading the second unit off of the bench considering how much the Blazers have improved in this offseason.
No. 7 has been pseudo-retired in Portland, as Blazers fans truly understand how amazing Roy could’ve been if not for his injuries. Roy willingly giving up his jersey for a future Hall of Famer in Melo is a testament to the respect Anthony still garners among the select few who have reached NBA stardom.