1. Best Nicknames in NBA History
1. David "The Admiral" Robinson. Robinson, a Hall of Fame NBA center, won
two league championships with the San Antonio Spurs. The nickname came after
Robinson served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
2. Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues. At only 5-foot-3, Bogues was one of the shortest
players ever in the NBA. A high school teammate, saying that the physical manner
in which Bogues played resembled a mugging, supplied his nickname.
3. Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins. Dawkins was a powerful 6-foot-11
center who entered the NBA straight out of high school and played for 14 years.
His nickname was due to his ferocious dunks.
4. George "The Iceman" Gervin. One of the top shooting guards ever in the
NBA, Gervin led the league in scoring four times. He received his nickname in
college for his unflappable demeanor on the court.
5. Karl The Mailman Malone. A two-time MVP, Malone was one of the best
power forwards ever in the NBA. His nickname came during his college days at
Louisiana Tech University, where Malone always delivered on the court.
6. Shaquille "The Diesel" O'Neal. O'Neal stood 7-foot-1 and weighed more than
300 pounds. He won four NBA titles and was first labeled "The Diesel" by a
journalist who likened O'Neal to an oncoming train.
7. Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Perhaps the greatest point guard ever in the NBA,
despite standing 6-foot-9, Johnson won five NBA titles and three MVP awards. A
high school sportswriter came up with the nickname after watching Johnson
dominated during a high school playoff game.
8. Julius "Dr. J" Erving. A star forward in the American Basketball Association
who then joined the NBA in 1977. Erving brought new athleticism and grace to
basketball. His nickname came from a high school friend, impressed with how
Erving "operated" on the basketball court.
9. "Pistol Pete” Maravich. The all-time college basketball scoring leader,
Maravich was a 6-foot-5 guard who could handle and pass the basketball like a
wizard. He got his nickname at high school in North Carolina, where his habit of
shooting from his hip made it appear as though he was holding a revolver.

2. 10. Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. Reeves was a small-town basketball star who
had an impact in the NBA as a 7-foot tall, 300-pound center. When Reeves
mentioned that a flight for an Oklahoma State University game was his first, a
college teammate issued the nickname.