The 30 greatest NBA nicknames of all time

The ultimate basketball nickname belongs to former Nets and 76ers Hall of Fame player Julius Erving. “Dr. J” was one of the original high flyers to play in the NBA and ABA, and his jaw-dropping dunks are still amazing to watch.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s nickname is so attached to him, it’s highly likely that many basketball fans today don’t even realize it's just that: a nickname. The former Lakers great truly was the embodiment of “magic” on the court and is easily one of the greatest point guards ever to grace a basketball court.

The greatest individual basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan’s nickname, “Air Jordan,” is a fitting one, seeing how effortlessly he would glide through the air in his prime. Jordan won six NBA championships over the course of his career with the Chicago Bulls.

Standing at barely 6 feet, former 76ers shooting guard Allen Iverson always did seem to have an answer for everything on and off the court. It may not have been the answer fans, coaches or players always wanted, but the former MVP always had one, nonetheless.

Born in Nigeria, Hakeem Olajuwon was one of the NBA’s first great (and perhaps the greatest) foreign-born players. Nicknamed “The Dream” for the impeccable footwork that made him look so graceful on the court, Olajuwon won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets during his Hall of Fame career.

He was never an All-Star and he certainly won’t end up in the Hall of Fame, but there isn't a greater role player in NBA history than Robert Horry. “Big Shot Bob” hit an incredible amount of clutch, game-winning shots that directly translated into NBA championships. Horry was a part of seven title-winning teams.

Perhaps the most tenacious defender from the point guard position in NBA history, Gary Payton’s nickname, “The Glove,” fit just like, well, a glove. Payton was a nine-time All-NBA First Team Defender over the course of his career.

Although injuries appeared to have taken their toll on him, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was the NBA’s deadliest fourth-quarter assassin since Michael Jordan’s retirement. “The Black Mamba” was one of the NBA’s most enthralling individual players ever to watch.

Former Utah Jazz power forward Karl “The Mailman” Malone made more than his fair share of deliveries during his career. A dominant post player, Malone retired second on the NBA's all-time points list with 36,928 scored.

Perhaps the greatest player of this generation, Lebron James received the nickname “King James” while he was still in high school. LeBron has lived up to the billing, however, with two championships, four MVPs and 11 All-Star appearances to date. Now "King James" takes his basketball royalty to Los Angeles. 

A 10-time All-Star, former Spurs center David Robinson likely would have made a few more All-Star teams if he had not been attending the United States Naval Academy. Aptly nicknamed “The Admiral” for his service, Robinson won two titles with the Spurs during his career.

The most ferocious rebounder the NBA has seen over the last 30 years, it’s unfortunate that most casual basketball fans now know Dennis Rodman best for his absurd antics off the court. On the court, “The Worm” had a motor like no other. Rodman averaged a mind-boggling 18.7 rebounds per game for the Detroit Pistons in the 1991-1992 season.

He was a quality role player during his time as player, but we all know Phil Jackson best for the 11 championships he won as head coach of the Lakers and Bulls. Having a tremendous capacity to get the best out of hot-headed players like Dennis Rodman, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, and to a certain extent Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, Jackson became known to fans as “The Zen Master” during his time as a coach.

One of the most dominant players in NBA history, Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain’s nickname of “Wilt the Stilt” was a good fit, as Chamberlain towered over everyone on the floor. The NBA record holder for points in a single game with 100, Chamberlain won four MVPs and played in 13 All-Star games.

Former 76ers, Suns and Rockets star Charles Barkley still remains one of the NBA’s most cherished and lovable figures. Although “Sir Charles” is never afraid to stir up controversy, most fans still remember the incredible drive the undersized power forward played with every night during his NBA career.

The greatest three-point shooter not named Stephen Curry, “Jesus Shuttlesworth” was actually the name of a character Ray Allen played in the Spike Lee film "He Got Game ." While it may not be an actual nickname for Allen, it is worth noting that Allen’s portrayal as Shuttlesworth in the film was universally praised. Famed film critic Roger Ebert even went as far as saying: “Allen is that rarity: an athlete who can act.”

Former Kings, Grizzlies and Heat point guard Jason Williams was not physically capable of making a routine pass look routine. “White Chocolate” always managed to add some flair to his passes, making him one of the more entertaining passers in NBA history.

One of the greatest NBA players nobody ever seems to mention anymore, “Pistol” Pete Maravich was a wizard on the basketball court. Maravich could score, pass and play great defense. The former Jazz great died in 1988 due to heart disease.

George “The Iceman” Gervin was one of the NBA's and ABA’s best pure scorers of the 1970s and 1980s. The former Spurs small forward even still claims he owns the NBA record for points in a quarter with 33, as when he recorded the feat the three-point line did not exist yet.

You can probably guess how former Lakers small forward James Worthy earned the nickname “Big Game James.” A three-time NBA champion and 1988 NBA Finals MVP, Worthy is currently an NBA commentator and analyst.

Although his career came to a crashing end, for about three years former Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas was one the NBA’s deadliest scorers. “Agent Zero” appeared in three All-Star games during his prime.

Having grown up in a town in Oklahoma with a population of about 300, former Grizzlies center Bryant Reeves was aptly nicknamed “Big Country.” Although he was a tremendous talent, back injuries ended Reeves' pro career before it ever truly started.

Former 76ers and Nets center Darryl Dawkins received the nickname “Chocolate Thunder” for his backboard-shattering slam dunks. A beloved NBA figure, Dawkins sadly passed away thre years ago from heart disease.

Tim Duncan is pure, fundamental-based basketball. “The Big Fundamental” quietly had one of the greatest NBA careers ever with the Spurs, and finally retired at 40 years old.

One of the most underrated nicknames in sports history belongs to Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson. “The Microwave” had a knack at racking up a large amount of points very quickly. Johnson won two NBA titles during his career with the Pistons.

TNT basketball analyst and former Houston Rockets guard Kenny Smith earned himself the nickname “The Jet” due to his ability to fly up and down the court. Former Rockets guard Jason Terry shares the same nickname.

During his prime with the Sonics, power forward Shawn Kemp was one of the most explosive players in the NBA. Nicknamed “The Reign Man,” Kemp was one of the most violent dunkers the NBA has ever seen and was a key player for the Sonics team that made the NBA Finals in 1996.

Retiring just last year, Clippers small forward Paul Pierce always reminded NBA fans why he was nicknamed “The Truth.” There have been few players in the NBA more reliable at getting his team a bucket when it needs one the most than Pierce was.

Another Hall of Fame player nearing the end of his career, Hawks small forward Vince Carter will always be remembered by NBA fans for the years of “Vinsanity.” Carter is one of the most awe-inspiring dunkers in NBA history and will forever have a place in the hearts of NBA fans for his performance in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

The number of nicknames four-time NBA champ Shaquille O'Neal had over his career is countless at this point. But here's a few of them: "The Big Fella," "Diesel," "The Big Aristotle," "The Big Shaqtus" and "Shaq Daddy." Always one to have a good time, O'Neal is currently a basketball analyst for TNT.