LEFTOVERS: Nicknames on jerseys not unique

So the NBA is thinking about letting the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets wear player nicknames on the backs of their uniforms? Nice idea, but it’s not unique.

The tradition dates to the 1960s when Walt Bellamy was playing for Atlanta and the back of his No. 8 Hawks jersey had “BELLS” on it. And when Pete Maravich played for the New Orleans Jazz in the early 1970s, his nickname “PISTOL” was on the back of his No. 7 jersey.

Even the Nets have a history with nicknames on the backs of uniforms. When the franchise was formed in the American Basketball Association in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans, forward Bob McIntyre went with “MAC” on the back of his No. 44. He probably did it because it was cheaper for the Americans to sew three letters on a jersey instead of eight.

So if Paul Pierce wants to be “The Truth” and Kevin Garnett wants to be “K.G.” and Deron Williams wants to go by “D-Will,” then have at it. Just know you’re not unique in doing so.

■ LAMAR LASHES OUT — Lamar Odom has been laying low since his Aug. 30 arrest for drunken driving. The veteran NBA free agent resurfaced Tuesday on Twitter and went after his estranged father and others, citing “seeing the snakes.”

Odom’s dad gave an interview Tuesday and reportedly blamed the Kardashian family for his son’s troubles. His son fired back via social media.

The tweets read: “Won’t continue 2 speak on this but I have got 2 let this out real quick. I have let this man and many others get away with a lot of (expletive). He wasn’t there 2 raise me. he was absent ALL of my life due to his own demons. My mother and grandmother raised me. Queens raised me.”

Odom also said on Twitter the family of his wife, Khloe Kardashian, has been supportive of him: “the ONLY ones that have been there consistently 4 me during this dark time.”

Odom also admitted on Twitter: “Only person 2 blame is myself. Say what you want about me but leave the ones who have done nothing but protect and love me out of this! This goes out to everyone!”

Maybe Twitter is chicken soup for the tortured soul.

■ BUCKS’ NEW LOOK — In the late 1970s through the early 1980s, the Milwaukee Bucks had one of the coolest-looking floors this side of Boston Garden’s parquet. It was a Robert Indiana design with an “M” on both sides of the court at the MECCA Arena. On Tuesday, the team unveiled the new floor at the Bradley Center, and the “M” is back.

Bucks center Larry Sanders loves the design, which also features a mean-looking buck’s head at center court.

“Maybe I expected a little bit more bulkiness,” Sanders told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “It’s sleek. With just the deer head right there, it’s fearless. It’s kind of what we want our team to be around.”

■ BIG NUMBER — Todd Helton is retiring after 17 seasons, and the Colorado Rockies paid tribute to the longtime first baseman by mowing a huge No. 17 in the outfield at Coors Field for Helton’s final home game Wednesday. The number extended from beyond the infield dirt to just short of the warning track.

Sure makes those No. 42s the Yankees had etched outside the foul lines for Mariano Rivera pale in comparison.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL