12 NBA Players whose nicknames are more popular than their real names

In the world of basketball, nicknames have been more popular than the real names of the players. The names have played a massive role in building the identity.

Surbhi Khera
September 9, 2025
4 min read

12 NBA Players whose nicknames are more popular than their real names — © Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

The nicknames of NBA players have been etched in the history and have overshadowed their real names. It has been widely used that it has become their entire identity. From names capturing their personality to their playing style, the names are not only fun but have deep thought behind them.

12. DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins had a big stature and had smooth moves during the game. His college coach gave him a nickname, ‘Boogie,’ which reflected the way he played. It became so popular that instead of using his real name, people started using the nickname Boogie more often. It was also used for merchandise purposes.

11. Jason Williams

White Chocolate was the nickname given to Jason Williams by a PR assistant during his early years. It reflected both his gameplay and the white identity. His way of playing was flavorful and unpredictable. The name got attached to him and was popularly used by media broadcasters, fans, and even his teammates.

10. Dennis Rodman

Dennis Rodman was given the nickname ‘The Worm’ by his mother in his childhood. He used to behave like a worm while playing, and years later, it was reflected in his gameplay too. The smooth transition from one side of the court to the other, the way of playing justified his nickname.

9. Gary Payton

Gary Payton is known for his elite defense, and as a result, he got the nickname ‘The Glove’. Once during a game, Payton held Kevin Johnson tightly that his cousin remarked, “You’re sticking to him like a glove!” This is how Gary got his nickname, and it was later used broadly.

8. Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis had an unibrow, and as a result, he got the nickname ‘The Brow’. It gained media popularity and even appeared in various memes, but Davis decided to flaunt his unibrow with pride. Instead, he used it for branding purposes, and it became a hit.

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannia Antetokounmpo came to be known as ‘the Greek Freak’ because of his Greek nationality. The word ‘freak’ was added to depict his mad and unbelievable gameplay. The nickname became so popular that Nike launched a shoe line, ‘Nike Zoom Freak’. Moreover, the difficulty in pronouncing his second name further popularized the usage of his nickname.

6. Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal did not have one nickname; instead, he was the owner of multiple nicknames. The most used nickname was ‘Shaq,’ and it became commonly used in his earlier days. It became a media sensation, a globally known name, and also a vibe that matched his personality. The man with many nicknames, i.e., Shaq, loved giving himself different nicknames

5. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett’s intensity, performance, and popularity helped him gain the nickname ‘The Big Ticket’. In one of the Timberwolves’ games, the fans turned out in the stadium in large numbers to see Garnett playing. The fans said that his presence and performance make the Timberwolves game worth watching.

4. Allen Iverson

‘They feared the question, until they met The Answer.’ Iverson was given the nickname ‘The Answer’ by his childhood friends but it soon became his identity. It is said that he became ‘The Answer’ to the struggles of 76ers. Even Iverson was deeply attached with the nickname that he got it tattooed. Moreover, Reebok came up with a sneaker line which was named after him & became an instant hit.

3. Karl Malone

A mailman is known for reliability and delivering on time. That is the reason that Karl Malone was famously called ‘The Mailman’ because he knew how to deliver during the game. His dominance, consistency, and scoring ability earned him this name. The phrase “The Mailman always delivers” became his identity and his fans referred to him more by his nickname rather than Karl.

2. Julius Erving

Julius Erving is credited with paving the path for future stars and has revolutionized the game. During his teen years, he called his friend ‘The Professor’ and, in return, his friend started calling him ‘The Doctor’. As he grew, his name and game underwent a stage of evolution, and he came to be known as ‘Dr. J.” Erving, i.e., Dr. J, knew how to operate on the court and how smoothly he performed as a small forward.

1. Earvin Johnson Jr.

Earvin Johnson Jr. earned the nickname Magic Johnson because of his magical game play. When he was just 15 years old, a local sportswriter called him “Magic” because of his performance in a high school game. The name Magic became a perfect word which could describe his abilities. Soon, people started calling him by his nickname and even consider it to be the star’s real name.