Before taking the microphone as the Golden State Warriors broadcast analyst, Kelenna Azubuike played in the NBA from 2005-2012. Azubuike averaged 10.6 points per game over four seasons with the Warriors. However, his tenure in Golden State ended when he became apart of a package sent to New York in a sign-and-trade deal for David Lee.
Azubuike wore No. 7 in Golden State and continued to don the lucky number in New York until Carmelo Anthony arrived in the Big Apple.
In 2011 the Knicks acquired the All-Star forward from the Denver Nuggets. On arrival, Anthony requested Azubuike’s No. 7 jersey and got it.
When the Warriors traveled to Rip City, Anthony’s new home, Azubuike shared the story of what happened when he had to give up his No. 7 in the video below from NBC Sports Bay Area.
Like most professional sports jersey number exchanges, Azubuike expected Anthony to pay him handsomely for No. 7; instead, the former Kentucky Wildcat ended up with $3,000.
Upon first glance, $3,000 may seem like a nice come up for only exchanging a jersey number— yet, that season, Anthony cashed in a salary of $17,149,243 during his first year in New York while Azubuike notched $3,300,000 according to HoopsHype.
Six days after acquiring Anthony from Denver, the Knicks waived the then injured Azubuike from the team. During the Portland-Golden State broadcast, Azubuike joked that he’s still “salty” about having to sell Anthony his number for a low price.
With Azubuike on the call, Anthony got the last laugh as his Trail Blazers cruised by Golden State 122-112 in Portland.
