The NBA is considering allowing players to wear jerseys featuring their nicknames instead of last names. However,this would only be for one game next season and it would only involve the champion Miami Heat and fashionable Brooklyn Nets. Players on the two teams have already been asked to submit potential nicknames for their jerseys.
As we all know, one of the main reasons of having a player's name on a jersey is to highlight the athlete and his or her brand as opposed to just the team. On the other hand, some college teams like to go with no names on the jersey to promote team unity. Notably Penn State Football shed this tradition with the hiring of Bill O'Brien. The focus on the player brand is certainly a trend in sports, exacerbated by social media's ability to let players connect directly with their fans.
