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I’m always intrigued by how athletes pick their numbers. It could a family-based thing (Jordan), it could be a motivation thing (Arenas), it could be a tribute thing (anyone since Jordan who wears 23); but there are some numbers that defy logic. Without further ado, here are the four NBA numbers that are strangest to me:

47 – Andrei Kirlenko – Now I’m assuming the reason he wears this number is because his initals are AK. Hence, AK47. According to Wikipedia, he was suggested this number (and by extension, nickname) by Quincy Lewis. However, I don’t know if I believe this because Quincy Lewis went to Minnesota and everyone knows they’re don’t even do their homework there, let alone come up with historically founded nicknames.

93 – Ron Artest – Ron-Ron once stated that he wanted to wear a different number in every NBA season, but ever since he tried to fight an entire city, he’s been a little slow on the switches. First he was 15 with the Bulls, then he was 23 with the Pacers, then 91 with the Pacers, then 15 with the Pacers, and now he’s been wearing 93 with the Kings for a minute. He says it represents the Queensbridge (Q=9, B=3) project he grew up in. I think it signifies his insanity rating on a scale of 1-100.

84 – Chris Webber – Aside from that little bit of time with the Bullets when he was #2 (no dookie), Webber has always wore 4. Unfortunately for him, when his hometown Pistons traded for him, the man that pulled the trigger (Joe Dumars) had worn the 4 pretty well himself. Since his preferred number was retired, Webber switched to 84. I figure it was either because he was a huge Herman Moore fan or he was paying tribute to me my sophomore year, when I lead our conference championship football team in catches sporting the big 8-4.

90 – Drew Gooden – If you think it’s bizarre that Gooden wears a defensive end’s number (and I do), let me point you in the direction of two facts which might help explain this quirk. One, his middle name is Melvin. Two, he’s growing a ducktail.