Carmelo Anthony is wearing No. 7, but is still hoping to wear No. 15 for the Knicks, who have retired it twice.

Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire both wore No. 15 for the Knicks.

"I wish I can take it back down," Carmelo continued. "Talking to Earl now, I don't know what I gotta go through to get it."

Kelenna Azubuike was previously assigned No. 7, but allowed Anthony to take it.

"I'll wear it in his honor," Anthony insisted. "I want to honor him and wear that number."

Monroe wouldn't mind if Anthony wore No. 15.

"I have no problem with him wearing that number," Monroe said. "It's not the number, it what you do in it."

Many people in New York expected Anthony to choose No. 30 because of Bernard King and two 15s equal 30.

"I thought about it, I thought about it," Carmelo replied. "But that number's too big for me."