2011 NBA Playoffs: Top 10 NBA Player Nicknames in This Year's Playoffs
With the NBA playoffs coming up, everyone is talking about the matchups, the stars, and who will ultimately be crowned as champions. But there are more to these playoffs than just those things. So, in order to get somewhat off the beaten path, here are the top ten best nicknames of players that will be playing in this year’s NBA playoffs.
Honorable Mentions:
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There were a lot of great nicknames to choose from, so of course, some had to be left out. Here are just a few of the Honorable Mentions from an NBA playoffs bursting with fantastic player monikers:
Air Congo (Serge Ibaka), L-Train (LaMarcus Aldridge), Agent Zero (Gilbert Arenas), Socks (Andrew Bynum), The Cambyman (Marcus Camby), The Chef (Daequan Cook), Big Baby (Glen Davis).
10. Shaquille O'Neal aka "The Diesel/Big Aristotle/The Big Cactus/Shaq..."
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One could argue that this guy should be higher on the list, but I’m a big subscriber of the “less is more” concept. The fact that Shaq has made up a new nickname for himself every time he’s gone to a new team takes away some of the magic behind his various handles. That being said, Shaq will definitely go down as one of the most entertaining basketball players of all time off the court, and his various reincarnations in the form of amusing nicknames add to that legacy.
Chris Paul aka "CP3"
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This particular nickname almost didn’t make the list, for the same reason that nicknames like ‘Melo (Carmelo Anthony), Perk (Kendrick Perkins), and RonRon (Ron Artest) were left out. Nicknames that are mere shortenings of a player’s real name lack the power of other nicknames because they do not tell anything about that person’s personality or style of play and are really not all that creative.
I give Chris Paul a break here because his nickname, unlike the others I just mentioned, is creative in both its incorporation of his number and its allusion to a famous Star Wars character (even though Paul and that particular character appear to have very little in common).
8. Tim Duncan aka "The Big Fundmental"
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Of all the nicknames on this list, this one is probably the most indicative of its bearer’s style of play. Duncan is often characterized as being a boring player, because of his calm, reserved off the court demeanor and his somewhat basic style of play. That being said, those basic, “fundamental” moves that he’s been using his entire career have won him four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, two regular season MVPs, and thirteen All-Star game appearances. Duncan is living proof that you don’t have to be flashy to be good, which is the essence of his nickname.
7. Kevin Garnett aka "The Big Ticket"
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I can only assume that this nickname comes from Garnett’s Minnesota days, during which time he was literally the only reason to buy a ticket to one of their games. Beyond that, Garnett is one of the most versatile, talented players in the NBA. He’s averaged 19.5 points per game over his career and has been selected as an All-Defensive player ten times.
6. Dwight Howard aka "Superman"
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Howard gets his nickname from his legendary Dunk Contests when he first donned the red cape of the Man of Steel and from his reputation as a beast, whose strength, length, and size are currently rivaled by no other NBA player. This nickname also describes Howard very well personally, as he is involved in numerous humanitarian and charitable causes.
5. Paul Pierce aka "The Truth"
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Pierce received his nickname from another player on this list. In 2001, after the Lakers beat the Celtics in a regular season game, Shaq pulled a Boston reporter aside and told him to take down the following quote: "My name is Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce is the [expletive] truth. Quote me on that and don't take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn't know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is the truth."
Shaq’s assertion proved correct considering that “The Truth” has averaged 22.5 points per game over his career, is a nine-time All Star, and is a Finals MVP.
4. LeBron James Aka "King James"/"The Chosen One"
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To be a king implies that one rules over subjects with an iron fist and with absolute power. To be a chosen one implies a kind of religious destiny involving saving something. It is very much up for debate as to what extent LeBron has lived up to such monikers.
However, what most would agree on is that being called the king may just be both one of the coolest things for an NBA player to be called and that the chosen one would be one of the most difficult. LeBron’s struggles in getting over the hump in the playoffs have led to something of a decrease in the use of these nicknames, but his dominance of the regular season still warrants their use.
3. Kevin Durant aka "Durantula"
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I may be a little biased here, both because I am an avid Oklahoma City Thunder fan and because I have a pretty large fear of arachnids. Either way, some of the best nicknames are those that allude to something frightening or unnerving.
Durant calls to mind the long, thin legs of a spider with his long, lanky stature. The way he patiently traps defenders into shooting fouls with his “rip” move is similar to how spiders lay and wait in their webs for their prey. Durant also gets a break from the rule about nicknames containing players’ names because his nickname combines his surname with the name of truly terrifying creature.
2. Chauncey Billups aka "Mr. Big Shot"
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This nickname was earned a few trades back, but still remains true. Chauncey Billups first became “Mr. Big Shot” in Detroit, where he lead the Pistons to an NBA Championship over two other guys on this list. He is a five-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA selection, not bad for a guy who was a bit of a journeyman in the beginning of his career.
His reputation as a guy who can make the big shot when his team needs it most is still with him today, and his presence on the New York Knicks lends a much-needed legitimacy to the pairing of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.
1. Kobe Bryant aka "Black Mamba"
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The Black Mamba is the longest venomous snake in Africa, reaching lengths anywhere from 8 to 14 feet long. It is the fastest land snake in the world and uses its wit and wile to trick prey into compromising their position so it can more easily attack. This is the best nickname of any player in the playoffs, not only because it alludes to one of the most physically gifted snakes on the planet, but also because it describes Kobe’s game so well.
Kobe took on the nickname himself, saying that he wanted to mimic the snake’s ability to strike with supreme accuracy in rapid succession. Much like the snake, Kobe can strike at will from anywhere on the floor, rising into a jumpshot that no one can block and few can even guard. His veteran savvy and ability to outsmart opponents also mirrors the snake’s ability to outsmart its prey.
