Nicknames on Jerseys…….Good Idea or Marketing Ploy?

The NBA is discussing an interesting idea of putting players “nicknames” on the back of their jerseys for one of the games the Brooklyn Nets play the Miami Heat this year.

Some players on the Heat and Nets have already been told the NBA is strongly considering the idea this season. Players were asked to submit what names they would want on the jerseys like Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen) , The Truth (Paul Pierce) and KG (Kevin Garnett) or D-Will for Deron Williams.

The NBA has not announced the plan to go forward yet, but teams seem to have been aware that the likelihood of this happening wouldnt be announced for several weeks.

“It shows growth in our league and it shows we do adapt to what’s going on around us,” said Ray Allen, the Heat guard who plans to wear “Shuttlesworth” on his jersey, a nod to his character from the film “He Got Game.” “And we’re still kids, playing a kids’ game. Even though we’re now men playing a kids’ game, we still remember where we come from. Everybody had a nickname, and it’s a way to let the fans in a little bit more.”

I agree with Steve Kerr that this idea is not too smart and would seem to cheapen the game I love so much.  This seems to be an idea that marketing people came up with to sell more jerseys and not to better the game.  Putting ads on the jerseys is one thing but nicknames on the back is downright stupid in my opinion.

The NBA has had a lot of good ideas over the years – this is not one of them.NBA eyes nickname jerseys for Heat, Nets http://t.co/WiIpVqP0WX

— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerrTNT) September 24, 2013