Go-ahead 3-pointers, jaw dropping slam dunks, clutch buzzer beaters and an outstanding variety of character and dexterity are usually followed with exuberant paparazzi in the NBA and other basketball tournaments around the world but they also produce the cherry on the cake for strong following by fans -a nickname that stays on their lips forever more.
Several fans identify with their favorites by their nicknames and on many occasions, this is at the detriment of their real names. A pick from the old guard and the reigning stars forms our top 10 list of the best nicknames in the sport.
10) The Beard
A big reason why James Harden is iconic is down to his beards and he earned the name for owning one of the most attractive facial hairs in the NBA.
Interestingly, Harden did not always spot these beards and he was once always cleanly shaved. Much to the chagrin of the NBA superstar, his older brother Akil Robertson once joked that Harden grew his beards because he wanted to compete with him.
Harden denied this while his beards kept taking shape and it transformed to its impressive look while playing alongside Kevin Durant for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
9) Shaq Daddy
Shaquille O’Neal was in a league of his own when it comes to aliases as he picked up and gave himself a number of pseudonyms during his playing career.
“The diesel” is probably the oldest of his nicknames but he was also popularly known as Shaq Daddy after he became a father. He also answered to names like Superman, Shaq Fu, The Big Shamrock and Wilt Chamberneezy while representing the same colors as the legendary Wilt Chamberlain.
Shaq has stayed a superstar despite retirement, anchoring his show, “The Big Podcast with Shaq” whilst holding minority ownership of Sacramento Kings for close to a decade and becoming a brand ambassador for premier mobile sports betting app, WynnBet as well as Pointsbet for whom he provides professional expertise as a strategic consultant.
He has appeared on numerous ads promoting some of the best NBA betting offers available to American players.
8) The Greek Freak
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s nickname, The Greek Freak has perhaps the most circumstantial one on the list but the Milwaukee Bucks star loves the name anyway.
Before Giannis identified as a household name in the sport, he earned the nickname as most people found great difficulty in pronouncing his last name but they always had to find an easier path to his nomenclature due to his freakish athletic ability, speed, strength, immaculate ball handling skills and his unusual size.
His grandiose status in the NBA earned him the unusual status of signing a personal endorsement deal to become the first global ambassador for gambling brand Betano.
7) The Unicorn
“He can shoot, he can make the right plays, he can defend, he’s a 7-footer that can shoot all the way out to the 3-point line, that’s rare. And block shots—that’s like a unicorn in this league.”
Perhaps, nobody can describe Kristaps Porzingis’ ambidextrous skills better than a proper maverick in Kevin Durant. It is quite incredible that Durant made this statement when Porzingis was still a rookie in 2016 and it is still accurate till date.
6) The Big dipper
Wilt Chamberlain achieved a lot as a basketballer, dominating with the Philadelphia (cum San Francisco) Warriors before claiming his first Championship with the Philadelphia 76ers and signing off his career with another title with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chamberlain is easily one of the greatest athletes in NBA history but his humble beginning earned him his nickname, the big dipper.
While he maintained a cool demeanor for the majority of his career, he started off less confident and struggling to fit in with a stuttering problem and an unusual height which saw him constantly “diminish himself, ducking beneath rowhouse doorways, [and] slumping in the company of friends to appear more normal.”
5) Hillbilly Kobe
On a night when LeBron James was absent due to injury, The Los Angeles Lakers needed a player who could dare to rise to the occasion alongside Anthony Davis earlier against the Orlando Magic in March this year.
Cometh Hillbilly Kobe, cometh the hour and eventual 111-105 success in which the undrafted Austin Reaves had the game of his life, pouring in 35 points.
Reaves got the pseudonym by an assistant coach from the University of Oklahoma but he has distanced himself from being identified this way on occasion.
4) Mr Clutch
Not every NBA star became a phenomenon as much having an award category named after him but Jerry West absolutely does, with the NBA Clutch Player of the year title named deriving its acclaim from the nickname “Mr Clutch”
West is arguably the most successful athlete out of West Virginia and its University and got his nickname due to his uncanny ability to come up big for the Los Angeles Lakers even in the most dire situations.
3) Air Jordan
Michael Jordan’s success as an athlete is well documented and he could well be regarded as an all-time great of the sport by fans from the world over.
He stood six feet and six inches and was a guard during his playing days, also famed as an exceptionally talented shooter and passer with immaculate defensive skills.
He earned the name “Air Jordan” due to his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic displays, which earned him a level of fanfare only other athletes and celebrities gained. His popularity helped him accumulate millions of dollars from endorsements, most notably for his Air Jordan basketball shoes.
One of the many trickling commercial effects of his popularity was his purchase of an equity stake in DraftKings in exchange for becoming a special adviser to the sports betting and fantasy sports company.
2) KG, The Big Ticket
Kevin Garnett is a household name in the NBA, thanks to his successful playing days as a power forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics for the majority of his career.
Garnett was named “The Big Ticket” by the Minnesota fans due to his imposing figure and the intensity on the court. Many fans jokingly suggested that the nickname stems from the fact that he was the only reason people watched Timberwolves games back in the days.
Upon retirement, KG became a brand ambassador for MGM and featured in their marketing campaigns, BetMGM promotions, social media content and fan events.
1) King James
Lebron James is one of the most successful athletes of his generation and is the inspiration of the very best of NBA stars at the moment. Part of being called “King James” is what makes him iconic but most fans don’t know the origin of his nickname.
King James” comes from way back in the days when he was still only in high school and being touted as a future star of the NBA. A local sportswriter in Ohio deemed James to have the skill set and potential that was worthy of comparison with greats such as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
James didn’t deny betting on NBA games, stating that “gambling is legal anyways” after his manager admitted to him using an illegal bookmaker to bet on several sports games.
