You guys are not understanding. Maybe it's because you don't really take your guy online or play MC to know how things work.
The number you select in MC, will be your number playing online as well. So if my # is 23. And I go online to buy a custom team jersey, it will say #23 and my last name. Also it applies in ProAm where you HAVE to wear jerseys.
He's saying his dude is retired, so he should be able to change his jersey number to whatever he likes since he's not in the league anymore. So if he played for the Bulls, but retired, he should be able to get #23 now because he's not on that team anymore. He's retired.
So his issue is, I am guessing, he likes changing his player name to, let's say Tracy Mcgrady and etc to recreate legends and he wants to bring them online. He can't get #1 because of the team that he was on BEFORE he retired isn't available. But since he is, he feels he should be able to select any number.
Personally, I think 2K should've left it how it was before where you can select any number besides what a current player is already wearing. And even if a player was wearing it, if you a great player you should have a option to buy it from that player with VC. But I hate you can't wear some retired numbers. I know it's realistic but something I don't think should be in the game. At least have it as an option. Because of teams like the Celtics damn near all the numbers are gone lol.