Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

LeBron James Earns New Nickname From Spurs Rookie

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 4:21 PM ET

Last week, the San Antonio Spurs made Dylan Harper the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft. The 19-year-old who played one year at Rutgers is the son of former NBA star Ron Harper.

In a video from SLAM Magazine, Harper is shown discussing the nicknames of past NBA stars during a photoshoot conducted to promote the partnership between the NBA, NBC and the streaming platform Peacock.

Harper compliments former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierece for his nickname, "The Truth."

Someone not seen on camera says LeBron James has a better nickname.

Harper jokes, "What's his nickname? God?"

LeBron's nickname is "King James," but he's received several more over the years like LBJ, Chosen One, Bron-Bron, The Little Emperor, The Akron Hammer, L-Train, Benjamin Buckets and Captain LeMerica, according to his profile on Basketball Reference.

Dylan Harper: "Paul Pierce, The Truth. That's hard."

"I feel like Bron's is better than that."

Dylan: "What's [LeBron James'] nickname? God?"

(via @SLAMonline/ TT)pic.twitter.com/repQUsZsVl
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 3, 2025

SLAM first covered Harper in August 2023, highlighting the then-No. 1 ranked prospect out of Don Bosco Prep, a private high school in Ramsey, New Jersey.

In his senior year, Harper was named the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year. The award is named after Morgan Wootten, a legendary high school coach responsible for co-founding the McDonald's All-American Game.

Last season, Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals for the Scarlet Knights. He was named third-team All-Big Ten and was on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

Joining Spurs stars De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, Harper will look to contribute to a team that finished 34-48 last season.

While expectations in San Antonio have certainly changed since the arrival of Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Spurs have failed to finish above .500 since the 2018-19 season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: