In one of the sillier New Orleans Pelicans controversies of recent memory, some are concerned that the team may have 'disrespected' former center Anthony Davis by handing out the No. 23 jersey to a two-way player.
It was revealed on Monday that new Pelicans signee Trey Alexander will be donning the No. 23, making him the first player to do so since Davis left town back in 2019.
Davis is an NBA champion and 10-time All-Star and will undoubtedly make it into the Hall of Fame once he decides to call it a career. There is no way that anyone should believe that he did enough to get his jersey retired in New Orleans.
The Pelicans have never retired the number of a player, which isn't too surprising given that they are a young organization. The No. 6 was retired league-wide to honor Bill Russell and No. 7 was retired to honor Pete Maravich, but none for one of their own.
The first person to have their number in the rafters will likely by someone who brings a ring to the city. At minimum, it won't be someone who forced their way off the team. Chris Paul won't see his jersey in the rafters, but even that would spark less outrage than Davis getting the honor.
One story really sums up the legacy of the former first pick in New Orleans. It was a hurricane back in 2021. The shelves of stores were empty as people prepared food. One of the only things left in stock? A group of Ruffles bags that sported Davis' face on them.
Video of the store (warning: strong language):
Just ask Ross Jackson, Davis also never thanked the city when he did leave.
This is a situation similar to Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. He was a franchise-altering draft selection that spent years there as one of the league's best players, while never bringing the team a ring.
Anthony then forced his way off the Nuggets and into a bigger market with the New York Knicks. Then the team gave the No. 15 to Anthony Randolph in 2012. Now, it is donned by Nikola Jokic, who has made the number his own in that city.
Denver did not owe it to Anthony to retire the No. 15 for him, the same way that the Pelicans do not owe anything to Davis six years after the fact.