List Rules Please rank the players only on their nicknames
This list includes the best NBA nicknames of current and retired NBA players. The top basketball players nicknames are on this list and the best thing is you can control who ranks highest on this list. This list includes nicknames for point guard, centers and shooters. "Air Jordan" may be the most famous of all the basketball nicknames, it almost might be the most cool basketball nickname, but is it the best? Vote for the best basketball nicknames of any era and add any good NBA players nicknames that may not have made it on the list.
What are the best nicknames in basketball? There are funny nicknames for all players if you look hard enough. This includes nicknames for point guards and other types of players. Some of these nicknames are more memorable than others, but that's the way it goes right?
list ordered by
1
2,900 856
Julius Erving Dr. J Julius Winfield Erving II, commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. ...more
2
3,151 686
Earvin Johnson Magic Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons. ...more
3
2,093 759
Pete Maravich Pistol Pete Peter Press "Pistol Pete" Maravich was an American professional basketball player. He was born and raised in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Maravich ...more
4
2,293 715
Hakeem Olajuwon The Dream Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National ...more
5
3,041 878
Michael Jordan Air Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American former professional basketball player. He is also an entrepreneur, and principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte ...more
6
2,806 903
Kobe Bryant The Black Mamba Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He entered the NBA directly from high school, and has played for ...more
7
1,811 631
Karl Malone The Mailman Karl Anthony Malone, nicknamed "The Mailman" is a retired American professional basketball power forward. He spent his first 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the ...more
8
1,320 582
wiabux added George Gervin "The Ice Man" George "The Iceman" Gervin is an American retired professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association for the ...more
9
2,100 718
Allen Iverson The Answer Allen Ezail Iverson is an American retired professional basketball player who played for four different teams during 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He played both the point ...more
10
1,375 627
Clyde Drexler Clyde the Glide Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22, 1962) is an American retired professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide," he was a ten-time All-Star during his career, and named ...more
11
1,665 618
Shaquille O'Neal Diesel, Superman, Big Aristotle Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, nicknamed Shaq, is an American retired professional basketball player, former rapper, actor and current analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Standing 7 ft ...more
12
1,434 732
Vince Carter Vinsanity, Air Canada Vincent Lamar Carter (born January 26, 1977) is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall ...more
13
1,236 505
Larry Bird Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick Larry Joe Bird is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Since retiring as a player, he has been a mainstay ...more
Giannis Antetokounmpo (born December 6, 1994) is a Greek professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed the "Greek ...more
15
1,339 557
Gary Payton The Glove Gary Dwayne Payton is an American former professional basketball point guard. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics. He has also played with the Milwaukee Bucks, ...more
16
977 329
LPKCYou added David Robinson The Admiral David Maurice Robinson (born August 6, 1965) is an American retired professional basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for ...more
17
1,253 604
Charles Barkley The Round Mound of Rebound Charles Wade Barkley is a retired American professional basketball player and current analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Nicknamed "Chuck", "Sir Charles", and ...more
18
1,212 579
Wilt Chamberlain The Stilt Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA; ...more
19
1,238 588
Dominique Wilkins The Human Highlight Film Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. Wilkins was a nine-time NBA All-Star, and one of the best ...more
20
1,254 481
Paul Pierce The Truth Paul Anthony Pierce is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association. Pierce was a high school McDonald's ...more
21
1,105 575
Dwyane Wade Flash Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. He has established himself as one of the most ...more
22
1,657 726
LeBron James King James LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Standing at 6 ft 8 in and weighing 250 lbs., he has started ...more
23
995 372
Jason Williams White Chocolate Jason Chandler Williams is an American retired basketball player who was a point guard in the National Basketball Association for twelve seasons during the late 1990s and 2000s. A native of West ...more
24
1,052 484
Tim Duncan The Big Fundamental Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player who has played his entire career for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. The ...more
25
896 568
Chris Andersen Birdman Christopher Claus "Chris" Andersen is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. Nicknamed Birdman, ...more
not on the list? add item #138
List Rules: Please rank the players only on their nicknames
