You think of Carmelo Anthony in the NBA, you think of No. 7 on the Knicks.

That might be part of our geographical bias — we’re the New York Post, after all, the California Post isn’t here quite yet — but I also suspect Melo prefers it that way. Or, better yet, he steered his public identity toward the Big Apple.

Basically, it’s a lot more lucrative, a lot more beneficial to cultural relevance, a lot more fun, to be associated with a marquee franchise in the world’s media capital. Those Garden courtside seats in the playoffs might equal the price of a used car.

Unless they’re comped.