NBA Players Who Use Their Real Names
Contents
- players who use their real names
- players who have interesting backstories
- players who have unique names
- players who have made an impact on the league
- players who are All-Stars
- players who are Hall of Famers
- players who are MVPs
- players who are legends
- players who are role players
- players who are up-and-comers
We all know that most NBA players use their nicknames on the court. But did you know that some players actually use their real names? Here are a few of them!
players who use their real names
While most NBA players go by a nickname, there are a few who have stuck with their given name. Here are five players who have made an impact in the league while using their real name.
Jimmy Butler – currently plays for the Miami Heat Jimmy Butler has been in the league since 2011. He is a four-time NBA All-Star and was named the Most Improved Player in 2015.
LeBron James – one of the most famous athletes in the world, Lebron James needs no introduction. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and has won three NBA championships
Kobe Bryant – another Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant played his entire 20-year career with Los Angeles He is a five-Ime Nba champion and was named the league MVP in 2008.
Kevin Durant – Kevin Durant spent nine seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016. He is a two-time NBA Finals MVP and was named the league MVP in 2014.
Dwyane Wade – Dwyane Wade spent 16 seasons with the Miami Heat winning three NBA Championships He also won an Olympic gold medal as part of Team USA in 2008.
players who have interesting backstories
Many players in the NBA have interesting backstories, but some are more fascinating than others. Here are five players who have overcome adversity to become successful in the NBA, and who also happen to use their real names.
First on the list is Lebron James Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, James was a highly touted High School player who drew comparisons to Michael Jordan He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and quickly became one of the best players in the league. In 2010, he left Cleveland to join the Miami Heat where he won two championships. In 2014, he returned to the Cavaliers and led them to their first-ever championship in 2016.
Next is Kobe Bryant who was born in Philadelphia but grew up in Italy. His family moved back to the United States when he was eight, and he attended high school in Lower Merion Pennsylvania. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 but was quickly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers with whom he spent his entire 20-year career. He won five championships with the Lakers and is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.
Other notable NBA players who use their real names include Carmelo Anthony Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul Anthony was born in New York City and grew up in Baltimore; Wade was born in Chicago; and Paul was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina All three have had successful NBA careers, with Anthony and Wade winning championships and Paul being a nine-time All-Star.
players who have unique names
Many players in the NBA have unique or interesting names. Some of these names are nicknames that they were given by their family or friends, while others are simply variations of their given name. Here is a list of some NBA players who use their real names.
-Ray Allen
-Dwyane Wade
-LeBron James
-Kobe Bryant
-Kevin Durant
players who have made an impact on the league
Over the years, there have been a Number of players who have used their real names instead of a nickname or alias. Here are some of the most notable players who have made an impact on the league:
--Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Arguably the greatest player in NBA history Abdul-Jabbar used his real name – Lew Alcindor – when he first started playing in the league. He later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after converting to Islam
--Wilt Chamberlain One of the most dominant players in NBA history Chamberlain went by his given name, Wilton, when he first joined the league. He later adopted the nickname “Wilt the Stilt” and became one of the most famous players in NBA history
--Magic Johnson Another basketball legend Magic Johnson was given his nickname by Lakers announcer Chick Hearn. His real name is Earvin Johnson Jr. and he is one of the most iconic players in NBA history
players who are All-Stars
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there is a long-standing tradition of players using aliases instead of their given birth names. While there are a few players who have bucked this trend and gone by their birth names, the vast majority of NBA players have used nicknames or initials.
There are a variety of reasons why players might choose to use an alias. In some cases, it is simply a matter of preference – some players simply prefer to be known by their nickname rather than their birth name. In other cases, it may be a way to honor a family member or friend. In still other cases, it may be because the player has a difficult-to-pronounce or unusual birth name.
Whatever the reason, the use of aliases is relatively common in the NBA. Below are some of the most famous examples:
--Kobe Bryant Born as Kobe Bean Bryant he chose his middle name as his alias because beans are considered Good luck in Italian culture (his father was Italian-American).
--Michael Jordan Originally went by his initials, MJ, but later started using his middle name – Jeffrey – after friends and teammates teased him about it.
--Lebron James Chosen his alias because his mother feared that he could be easily confused with another Lebron James who had been convicted of drug trafficking.
--Dwyane Wade His mother misspelled his given name, “Duane”, on his birth certificate – and he decided to keep the misspelling as his alias.
players who are Hall of Famers
Many players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) have chosen to use a moniker rather than their given name on their jerseys. In recent years some players have strayed from this tradition and have gone back to using their birth name, while others have taken on a new alias. Here is a list of NBA players who are currently using their real names.
-Players who are Hall of Famers
Kobe Bryant: One of the most successful players in NBA history Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers He was a traditionalist when it came to his jersey, always donning his given name of “Kobe” across his back.
Michael Jordan: Another legend of the game, Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest player of all time. He too used his real name on his jersey throughout his illustrious career.
-Players who have recently switched to using their real name:
Damian Lillard: After eight seasons in the league, All-Star point guard Damian Lillard decided to start using his given name of “Damian” on his jersey during the 2020-21 season. He had previously gone by the nickname “Dame” for his entire career up until that point.
Lou Williams: sixth man of the Year Lou Williams made headlines when he announced that he would be wearing his given name of “Louis” on his jersey for the 2020-21 season. He had been using the nickname “Sweet Lou” for 15 years prior to this change.
players who are MVPs
There are several NBA players who have used their real names rather than their nicknames or initials. These players include:
-LeBron James
-Kobe Bryant
-Michael Jordan
– Magic Johnson
-Larry Bird
players who are legends
There are many players in the NBA who have used their real names rather than their given names. Some of these players are legends, and their use of their real name has become part of their brand. Here are some of the most famous NBA players who have used their real name:
-Kobe Bryant
-Michael Jordan
-LeBron James
-Dwyane Wade
– Magic Johnson
players who are role players
Although most NBA players use nicknames, some players use their real names. Here is a list of NBA players who use their real names.
-Shaquille O’Neal
-LeBron James
-Chris Paul
-Dwyane Wade
-Kobe Bryant
players who are up-and-comers
In the NBA, there has been a trend in recent years of players using their nicknames rather than their given names on their jerseys. While some have kept their birth name on their jersey, an increasing number have gone by a moniker, moniker- hybrid or nickname. Here is a list of players who have chosen to go by something other than their birth name on their jersey, and the story behind their chosen name.