So, I found myself with some downtime the other day, just kinda scrolling through stuff, maybe watching some old game clips, can’t quite pin down exactly what. But somehow, I got started thinking about basketball player names. Not the cool ones, necessarily, but the ones that just kinda make you chuckle or do a double-take.
It wasn’t like a serious project or anything, you know? Just started trying to remember guys from back in the day, or even some more recent players. My brain just started digging through old rosters filed away up there. I’d think of one name, and that would lead to another, kinda like a weird chain reaction.
Thinking Back on Some Names
I started just mentally listing them out. First one that popped up? Probably God Shammgod. I mean, that name is just legendary, isn’t it? It sounds like something out of a movie. You just hear it and remember it. That got me thinking about other unique ones.
Then my mind drifted to guys whose names just sounded funny together, or maybe like regular words mashed together. I remember thinking about Fat Lever. Now, I know his real name was Lafayette, and he was a great player, no doubt. But everyone called him Fat Lever. Always thought that was kinda odd, but memorable.
And what about players where you just had to ask, “Wait, really?”
- Like Pooh Richardson. Great point guard, but yeah, Pooh.
- World B. Free – another classic case of a name change that stuck. Originally Lloyd Bernard Free.
- More recently, maybe Michael Kidd-Gilchrist? Just sounds like a lot of name, you know?
- Oh, and how could I forget Wang Zhizhi? Just the repetition, maybe? Always sounded distinctive.
I wasn’t even really looking things up online much at first, just going from memory. It’s surprising what sticks with you over the years. It wasn’t about making fun of anyone, more just appreciating the sheer variety and sometimes, the pure accidental comedy of names when you say them out loud.
Just a Fun Little Detour
It’s funny how the brain works, going off on these little tangents. Spent maybe twenty minutes just lost in thought about weird and wonderful NBA names. Didn’t achieve anything world-changing, obviously, but it was a decent way to pass the time. Some names are just inherently memorable because they stand out so much. Anyway, that was my little journey down the funny name rabbit hole.
