Danny Green changes jersey number to 14, inspires millions
By Ian Levy
Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (right) is interviewed in the locker room after defeating the Miami Heat in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Spurs defeated the Heat 104-87 to win the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
BREAKING NEWS BULLETIN:
We come to you today live from the internet with an interesting story regarding Danny Green and his jersey number.
Yes, that is correct. The whispers you have heard surrounding this situation have been confirmed and “Danny Green changes jersey number” stories no longer need “rumor” at the front. This is a done deal. We turn now to Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports and Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News for more on this story.
Spurs @DGreen_14 changed his # back to 14 to honor his hometown of North Babylon, NY where #14 is always worn by prep team captains & stars.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 19, 2014
"After last season & all of the love my hometown showed me, I thought it was the perfect timing to take it back for N. Babylon," @DGreen_14
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 19, 2014
As pointed out by multiple tweeters, Green wore 14 at Carolina and Cleveland. Gary Neal had the number when he arrived in SA.
— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneyNBA) September 17, 2014
A neat little story, right? An NBA player going back to his roots and honoring the places he came from on his basketball journey.
If only that was that was the whole story. Now, sure, Green isn’t making up the stuff about his high school, but come on, we all know what’s really going on here. This is a re-#brand, pure and simple.
But it’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it should be celebrated. This is no longer Danny Green, NBA player we’re talking about. This is Danny Green, NBA champion. When you’re a champion you can’t rely on your same old #brand to get things done for you. You’re up on a pedestal now, and everyone will be coming for that spot. Haters love nothing more than trying to knock you down from the top of the mountain you climbed. The summer after winning a title isn’t time to rest on your #brand, it’s time to make adjustments, to take your #brand to the next level.
That’s just what Green is doing, and he’s playing it perfectly. Switching up the jersey number is just the right adjustment. Re-#branding doesn’t mean starting anew, dismantling what you’ve built and starting from scratch. No, it’s about taking your #brand and molding it so you can succeed in the future. And in doing so vexing the haters that so love to see you fail.
Some will see this only as a story about tradition, and that’s fine. But for those of us with budding #brands of our own, Danny Green is an inspiration.