Welcome back for the third edition of The Quick Report. This is your place for good old NBA discussion. In the first two blogs I threw out the nicknames of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson and other player as the best of the bunch. Well, I have six more entries in this trilogy. I said on Thursday evening that I would be posting three blogs on the best NBA nicknames, and now that’s come full circle. So, let’s take a look at the final six names I’ve chosen.
“Air Jordan” – Michael Jordan
Where better to start than with the true king of the NBA? The nickname of “Air Jordan” for Michael Jordan became the greatest marketing slogan that any athlete has or maybe ever will have. The moniker of “Air Jordan” became the chosen words for the greatest single shoe line in history. One could argue that “Air Jordan” is the single most famous nickname in the history of sports. Why not have it belong to the greatest athlete ever in sports?
“The Glove” – Gary Payton
In his prime, Gary Payton was one of the best defensive guards of all time. His considerable skill on the defensive end was what gave him the nickname “The Glove.” Gary Payton would steal the ball just like a pickpocket would steal your wallet. Payton’s defense lent itself to giving Michael Jordan his toughest outing in the NBA Finals in 1996 when the Bulls went up against the former Seattle Supersonics.
“Pistol Pete” – Pete Maravich
I have a friend who claims this player as his favorite of all time. Some call Pete Maravich the greatest player to never really be a winner at the highest level. There have been NBA historians that have speculated that if Pete had played with a three point line he would’ve averaged over fifty points a game. Pete Maravich was one of the most creative scorers and passers in the history of the NBA. I don’t know about you, but “Pistol” seems a good fit.
“Larry Legend” – Larry Bird
This may be my favorite NBA nickname of all time. Larry Bird has long been a favorite of NBA fans for his old school image. His career-long rival, Magic Johnson, was about flash with the Showtime Lakers. Larry Bird was the hard working blue collar athlete from Indiana. His playing with the NBA’s greatest franchise in the Boston Celtics just adds to his stature. Many people throw around the “legend” label easily, but Larry Bird no doubt earned it.
“The Human Highlight Reel” – Dominique Wilkins
I see so many people talking about Michael Jordan or Julius Erving when the conversation of the great early dunkers is mentioned, but I sometimes wonder if Dominique Wilkins was truly the best of the bunch early on. Wilkins had a power in his dunks that neither Michael Jordan nor Dr. J. could match, but he could also match style with anyone. His ability to finish plays with thunder and flare is what gave Dominique Wilkins his nickname of “The Human Highlight Reel.”
“Mr. Clutch” – Jerry West
What better way to end a trilogy of the best NBA nicknames than with the logo himself? Generally the argument as to which player has been the best at closing out games in NBA history comes down to Michael Jordan vs. Jerry West. Michael Jordan probably sneaks through as the winner in the debate, but Jerry West can still make the argument that he was the first great shooting guard in basketball.
There you have it! That’s all three parts of my blogs on the best NBA nicknames of all time. I’ll throw something out at you Wednesday. I’m not sure what, but I’ll think of something!
Please visit my main site http://www.sportsviews.com
The Quick Report 