Basketball - NBA Player Nicknames

Used to be known as 'The Answer' but has reverted to using his initials.

Named for his unusual build and talent as a player

Dawkins gave himself a large number of nicknames including “Double D,” “Sir Slam” and “Master of Disaster.” He claimed to be an alien from the planet Lovetron. He broke two backboards in the 1979-80 season: one on November 13, 1979 (which he called "The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Glass-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Babies-Crying, Glass-Still-Flying, Cats-Crying, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Thank You-Wham-Bam-I-Am-Jam") and a 2nd backboard 23 days later in a game against the San Antonio Spurs.

David “Smokey” Gaines travelled the world from 1963-1967 as a standout guard with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral"based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, although his actual rank was Lieutenant, Junior Grade . He along with power-forward Tim Duncan, were nicknamed the "The Twin Towers".

Given the nickname Worm because of the twisty manner he has of working a pinball machine - and because it is also applicable to the way he maneuvers around the basket. Also known as 'Denis the Menace', 'Rodzilla', 'D-Rod', 'Rod the Bod' and 'The Red Mound of Rebound'. Known for his eccentric and attention-hunting behavior, especially his habit of changing hair colours weekly or daily.

Named for his incredible athletic ability and highlight reel dunks. His trademark dunk was a powerful one- or two-handed windmill, dunks he used to capture the Slam Dunk titles in 1985 and 1990.

Was also known as the " Human Highlight Film "

The nickname was given to him by Shaquille O'Neal who would sing, "He's the greatest in the Universe," in reference to the Queen song of the same name from the 1980 film 'Flash Gordon'. Also known as D-Wade.

Fred Neal's instantly recognizable shaved head earned him the nickname of Curly, which was also said to be a reference to the Three Stooges' Curly Howard. Neal was one of the most popular players on the legendary Harlem Globetrotters.

His nickname "The Glove" caught on in 1993 when his cousin phoned him during the week of the Western Conference Finals against Phoenix and told him “You’re holding Kevin Johnson like a baseball in a glove”

Earned for his dazzling playing and irrepressible pranks on the court.

Ausbie had been called “Goose” since childhood, but his nickname was changed to “Geese” when he joined the Globetrotters because they had another “Goose” - Reece “Goose” Tatum.

His nicknames included "Mr. Clutch" for his ability to make a shot in a clutch situation, and "Zeke from Cabin Creek" after the Cabin Creek river near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia

The nickname was inspired by the John Wayne movie of the same name.

Nicknamed The Mailman because "he delivered"

Also known as "KG", "The Kid", D Kid, and formerly "The Franchise" (after being known as the Minnesota Timberwolves' franchise player).

The Hall-of-Famer won 3 NBA Championships, 3 NBA MVP's, and was voted one of the Top 50 NBA players of All Time!

His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line at Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness."

Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond & Chris Mullins were also collectively known as TMC for Tim, Mitch & Chris.

His nickname was "The Chief", after the mute Native American in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. According to Parish, former Celtics forward Cedric Maxwell gave Parish this nickname because of his stoic nature.

O'Neal siad "I'd like to be known as 'the Big Aristotle.' It was Aristotle who said excellence is not a singular act, but a habit." His nicknames include "The Diesel", "The Big Daddy", "Superman", "The Big Cactus", "Wilt Chamberneezy", "The Big Baryshnikov", "The Real Deal", and (after recently gaining an MBA degree) "Dr. Shaq".

Also 'The Big Diesel' - refers to the way Shaq plays basketball - like a big and powerful engine.

Varying reasons are given for this nickname. Some say he picked up the nickname "Reign Man" after Sonics announcer Kevin Calabro saw a poster with the name and found it fitting to add to his radio broadcasts. Conflicting accounts attribute this to his love of the Seattle weather as a rookie, as well as his appreciation of the Dustin Hoffman movie "Rain Man.

He gained the nickname due to his athletic ability to "stretch," as can the DC Comics superhero of the same name.

Johnson earned the nickname "the Microwave" from Boston Celtics guard Danny Ainge for his ability to score many points in a short period of time

Named for his 7ft height. During his playing career, Rollins was given the nickname "The Intimidator".