TEAM NICKNAMES: MEN'S VS. WOMEN'S. Schools in the Power Five conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference) that use separate nicknames for men's and women's . Team Cyclops (Tall, but with a lousy shooting eye). Celtics center Robert Williams boasts one of the best nicknames among current NBA players. He led the NBA in rebounding six times in a span of seven seasons from 1978-79 through 1984-85. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images). He is the general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans. 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Fill in the nicknames for all 364 NCAA Division I basketball teams. Supersonics +400. Even if your team is terrible, no one can take away your awesome basketball team name. The former University of Louisville and Utah Jazz star received the nickname from his brother in a nod to the Parliament-Funkadelic song Dr. The four-time NBA All-Star and current University of Memphis mens basketball coach has explained that his grandmother originated the nickname, albeit unintentionally. Jason Williams acquired his nickname from a Sacramento Kings media relations staffer prior to his rookie season. 8.) Erving blended grace and hang time to become one of the greatest dunkers in basketball history. Flying Squirrels. After all, isnt Zeke actually short for Ezekiel? Cute Basketball Nicknames Towerco Pioneers Hungla Devils Phylerdo Seconix Time Lord Friars Bulldogs The Big Ticket Knockin' Knickerbockers Blue Devils Notpa Enjoythin Gang Green Giant Salukis Elephants Hope Nip The Answer Brewers Spiristan Trojans Th Ginger Giant Scorpions Spartans Bad News Bumble Bees Roneou Cobras Car Names For Girls Paltive If you want your clan name to reflect this attitude, then these Dope NBA 2K clan names are perfect for you. Colorado 14ers. Free. Michael Cages rebounding prowess spawned his nickname. The Rimshots. Succinct and powerful, the moniker stuck. 1 overall by the Rockets and earned 12 All-Star appearances. Robert Traylor, who played seven NBA seasons with the Bucks, Cavaliers and Hornets, received his famous moniker from Detroit sportswriter Terry Foster. The late Lakers superstar dubbed himself Black Mamba in a nod to a character from the 2003 film Kill Bill.. Find your sport, then choose a name! The Red Zone Renegades. Dwyane Wade is another player who received a famous nickname from Shaquille ONeal. Also, many teams add a team color to a nickname to make it more specific and distinct, e.g., "Eagles" could become "Golden Eagles" or "Knights" becomes . 2) The Wet Dream Team. From his victory in the 2000 NBA All-Star Dunk Contest to his ungodly slam over 7-footer Frederic Weis at the Olympics that summer, Carter established himself as one of the games premier dunkers. Cage averaged double figures in rebounds per game three times during his NBA career, including a league-best 13.0 in 1987-88. Paul Pierce was bestowed his nickname by legendary big man Shaquille ONeal. Back in the day, she referred to newborn Anfernee as a pretty baby. Join Date: Sep 2012. (AP Photo / San Antonio Express-News / Tom Reel). A clutch outside shooter with a noted temper on and off the court, Vernon Maxwell was dubbed Mad Max in a nod to the movie series of the same name. Rodman won five NBA championships (two with Detroit, three with Chicago) and led the league in rebounding seven times. Bethel Royals. There are many nicknames for black basketball players. Gervin once explained that he drove a Cadillac and wore a big suit and gator shoes, prompting Taylor to call him Iceberg Slim, after a famous pimp-turned-author. Chris Andersen was bestowed with his avian moniker early in his career by teammates Kenny Satterfield and Junior Harrington because of his wingspan and aerial ability. Each year there is a struggle to not just field the best team in fantasy basketball, but also have the best team name. I came up with that name because of his style, Stephanie Shepard told The New York Times in 1999. Legendary Celtics point guard Bob Cousy boasted a flashy style at a time when pro basketball was mostly vanilla. A three-time MVP, Bird was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. One of the most gifted players in the NBA today, Giannis Antetokounmpos nickname is a nod to his native Greece and his unusually versatile skill set for someone his size (6 feet, 11 inches, 242 pounds). Various accounts abound on the internet, but one thing not up for debate is the fact the nickname stuck with the Indiana University and Detroit Pistons legend. Gervin didnt care for the illicit connotation, so Taylor tweaked the moniker to Iceman. The Torpedoes. One of the most impactful sixth men in NBA history, Vinnie Johnson earned his nickname for his ability to come off the bench and get hot immediately. Foster conceived the nickname after watching the 6-foot-8, 300-pounder dunk in a high school game. That question is the main reason Coastal Carolina is among the more well-known of the low-end college basketball teams in Division I. Weird and wild nicknames stand out, and few are weirder or . Bookmark Quiz Bookmark Quiz Bookmark. One of the great power forwards in NBA history, Karl Malone garnered his nickname in college at Louisiana Tech because he always delivered.. One of the most brilliant ballhandlers in basketball history, Allen Iverson, inspired a nickname that adorned Reebok merchandise for many years. The man who twice led the Lakers in scoring was brilliant at scoring off steals or offensive rebounds. Basketball. Shooting Stars. Dominican Republic: The Dominican Republic's nickname for both basketball and football teams is "Los Quisqueyanos" which means people of Dominican descent, or "The Dominicans". He was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. 2 overall in 1999 by Vancouver but was traded to Houston when he refused to play for the nascent Grizzlies. In a nod to the Paul Newman film classic Cool Hand Luke, Dallas Mavericks fans bestowed this nickname on budding superstar Luka Doncic. By Joe DiTullio October 13, 2022 5 Mins Read. Multidimensional big man Kristaps Porzingis has superstar Kevin Durant to thank for his nickname. Earvin Johnson has been known as Magic for so long its difficult to imagine the five-time NBA champion without his famous nickname. Big Shamrock - Shaquille O'Neal got this nickname from sports announcer Jim Ross during the 1996 Olympics while playing for UCONN Men's Basketball Team (UCONN). The Clumsy Waiters (because we keep dropping treys!). Hockey. The nickname Pistol was first applied to Maravich in high school by Jerry McLeese, a sportswriter at the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina. These are the general, collective nicknames that various colleges and universities' athletic teams compete under, grouped by a general theme before dividing into specific nicknames. The perfect name may be hard to come by, but when you find it, youll know. Ellison averaged 9.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during his 11 NBA seasons with the Sacramento, Washington, Boston and Seattle. Kevin Garnett earned his moniker as the first true franchise player in Minnesota Timberwolves history. Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Charlotte Hornets Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Send a Message. 1 overall by the Sacramento Kings in 1989. Leonard already has two championship rings to adorn those powerful paws, having led San Antonio to the 2014 NBA title and Toronto to the 2019 crown. Girls Basketball Team Names 11.) Thomas led Indiana to the 1981 NCAA championship, sparked the Pistons to two NBA titles, earned 12 All-Star invitations and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. Sin/Sinners +600. Clear and Present Granger. As a rookie in 1999, Shawn Marion impressed TNT analyst and former NBA point guard Kenny Smith so much during a preseason game that Smith nicknamed Marion after the popular movie for his freakish athleticism and versatility. Find the perfect funny name for your team. Earvin Johnson - Magic 3. He played 13 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves, Nets, Suns, Knicks and Celtics, before capping his career with a successful stint in the Chinese Basketball Association. After leading the Cougars to three consecutive Final Fours, Olajuwon was drafted No. Welcome Back Korver. He was named to 12 All-Star teams and won three NBA MVP awards. As you are most probably aware, the NBA has 30 teams which is split into two conferences and then into there divisions within each conference. Check out Basketball Captions for Instagram. He played a total of 13 NBA seasons with the 76ers, Clippers, Warriors, Cavaliers and Rockets. A friend in need is a friend Embiid. Check out Maurice Cheeks assisting a young singer who forgets National Anthem (heartwarming video). College Basketball Nicknames Can you name the Division 1 College Basketball Nicknames? Rookie Wire lists the top 10 former Michigan Wolverines in NBA history. Chicken Hoop! Vipers +600. Please check your email for a confirmation. Lloyd Bernard Free was a rare talent whose skills on the playground courts of his native Brooklyn earned him the nickname All-World.. Payton was a nine-time All-Star and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team nine times. He has led three franchises to NBA championships and played in the All-Star Game every year since 2005. An athlete's appearance or style of play are the most common reasons for these bad nicknames, while personality or lifestyle are other common paths. Fill in the nicknames for all 364 NCAA Division I basketball teams. With that in mind, Rookie Wire presents a completely subjective look at the 101 greatest nicknames in NBA history. 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