Hello, to all the NBA fans out there. As some of you might have noticed, on Wednesdays I’ve started posting top five blogs. Well, that’s now the plan anyway. Each Wednesday you can come back here and see my weekly top five list. Now I know it’s kind of pointless for a blog to have a schedule, but that’s just how I roll. That’s right, I’m lame. Anyway, last Wednesday I wrote my weekly top five list about the worst NBA team names. Well, this week I figured why not come full circle and throw out the five best NBA team names?
5. Utah Jazz
Okay, this isn’t really a good name, but how could I leave it off? The fact that arguably the most mundane city in America in Salt Lake City has a sports team named after music that is anything but mundane, well, that’s irony folks. I can’t help it, I’m a fan. Now we all know that the Jazz originated in New Orleans where the name actually made sense, but for the franchise to settle in a state primarily known for the Mormon religion, that’s just pure comedic gold. Besides, could anyone think of a better name for a team in Utah than something littered with irony?
4. Phoenix Suns
I will be the first to admit that this sounds like a WNBA team name, and it’s about as threatening as the thought of fighting a 72 year old John McCain. Still, something about this name just works. The name completely fits with the desert area in which Phoenix is located, and it just sounds good. Whenever it comes time for the weekly TNT games or whatever, this name just sounds so good in the billing. “The Suns take on the Lakers, tonight at nine!” The Phoenix Suns is a name that fits its franchise, not like some other NBA names that are just there because the franchise has to have a name.
3. Boston Celtics
Do I really need to say more than the fact that this team has seventeen championships? The term “Celtics” just epitomizes what the view of the Boston culture is known to be. The idea is that the city is primarily blue collar, Irish and catholic. It’s about this idea that Boston isn’t about flash or spectacle, but rather hard work and team philosophy. The Boston Celtics are the NBA’s premier franchise. It will always probably be that way. Unless the number two pick has something to say about it…
2. Los Angeles Lakers
I know, I know! The name “Lakers” is patently ridiculous for a city that has no lakes. We all know that the team started in Minneapolis and then moved to Los Angeles. The thing is I don’t care. The name just rolls right. When you say the name “Los Angeles Lakers” there’s not a moment of disconnect where it feels wrong or out of place. The Boston Celtics may be a name that makes sense to the city in which the team is hosted, but the Los Angeles Lakers and their name have just about equally prestigious name recognition. That can’t be overlooked.
1. New York Knicks
One thing I have always found so fascinating about the New York Knicks is that they, somehow, have managed to become an NBA marquee franchise. Unlike the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers or even the Chicago Bulls, the Knicks have never really done anything. They’ve had a hand full of NBA Finals appearances and two championships about thirty five years ago. They’ve never really done anything to warrant such high placement in the NBA’s franchise hierarchy, but they still seem to be the quintessential basketball team. The Knicks have the most famous arena in the world to play in, and the biggest basketball nuts in as fans. Like the Los Angeles Lakers, the name of the New York Knicks just works. In my opinion, more so than any other name in the NBA.
I’ll see you guys Friday. In the meantime, do me a favor and visit www.sportsviews.com
