The Denver Nuggets just signed a player named Nick Young. As nicknames go, he goes by “Swaggy P.” How did he get this moniker, you ask? It’s hilarious, and you can read all about it here.
Sports nicknames are a curious thing. In real life I never had a nickname – always been just plain “Dan.” But on the basketball floor I’ve had several, most of them borrowed from other players I resemble in some way. Here are a few of them.
********
Back before the Grizzlies moved to Memphis they had a center named Bryant Reeves who played his college ball at Oklahoma State and went by the nickname of “Big Country.” He was a “stiff,” meaning that his game was mostly filling up space in the middle of the lane with tough defense and not a lot of flashy moves on offense. Oh, and also? That hairstyle. Yep. You got it. Pure “Big Country.”
********
Before he retired in 2016 after a stellar 19-year pro career that included 5 NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan was known around the league for his no-nonsense, fundamentally sound style of play as “The Big Fundamental.” Never flashy, always solid in the post, and a perennial All Star, Duncan never lost his cool, never thumped his chest or screamed after a thundering dunk, and rarely smiled – at least not on the court.
********
As far as I know Kevin McHale never had a nickname, not even after he clothes-lined Kurt Rambis in that notorious NBA Finals incident which turned the tide in favor of the Celtics against the Lakers in 1984. (The full play-by-play here is definitely worth watching.) But the long limbed resemblance was enough to get me labeled “McHale” there for a while… before I put on 40 pounds and became “Big Country,” I guess. I won’t say McHale was a dirty player, exactly. Let’s just say he played “Tenacious-D,” okay? ‘Nuf said.
********
Another player without a nickname, but one I’ve been compared to, was George Mikan. He was the NBA’s original Big Man from way back in the 1950’s. I’ve posted on him before, and you can read that post here.
Fundamentally sound? Check.
Tenacious defense? Check.
Big and slow? Double check.
Swaggy P? Ummmm, nope – not even close.
Saggy D?