NBA plans to showcase nicknames

One of the matchups between the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets this year may feature a slightly different lineup, with King James, The Truth and KG replacing the more familiar names of the players on the floor.

The NBA is considering having members of the two Eastern Conference rivals wear their nicknames on the backs of their jerseys in at least one of their four games this season.

The league hasn't officially announced the plan, but the teams apparently have been aware of the likelihood of it happening for several weeks.

Players were asked to submit what names they would want on the jerseys.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James is expected to wear "King James". Brooklyn forward Paul Pierce has been called "The Truth" for many years and fellow Nets forward Kevin Garnett has long been known by his initials.

"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 "Jesus Shuttlesworth" on his jersey, a nod to his character from the 1998 Spike Lee 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."

In other NBA news, Shaquille O'Neal, a four-time league champion who retired in 2011, has become a part owner of the Sacramento Kings.

Indian businessman Vivek Ranadive, a software company founder who became the owner of the Kings in May for a record $534 million after the team appeared set to move to Seattle, confirmed the move in a Twitter posting on Monday.

"Join me in welcoming @SHAQ to the @SacramentoKings! Only one way to go from here!" Ranadive tweeted.

O'Neal's minority stake in the club gives the 7-foot-1 former Lakers superstar a new nickname to go alongside dozens of others he coined in his career: "The Big Owner".

O'Neal had been talking with the Kings over the past few months after finishing his season stint as a TV commentator.

Having been a thorn in the side of the Kings during championship playoff runs by the Lakers in 2000-2002, O'Neal told USA Today the Kings can only get better after going 28-54 last season, in part because of a deal for a new arena.

"Once that new arena comes, once that new downtown is up and we talk to the players and get everybody to step up, they'll be knocking on the door," O'Neal said.

(China Daily 09/25/2013 page22)