Ranking the NBA nicknames

By Berry Tramel
Published: September 3, 2008

1. New York Knickerbockers: Unique & New York-centric.

Advertisement

2. Boston Celtics: Great name even without 17 titles.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: 89ers would have been good for OKC.

4. Detroit Pistons: Never heard of another Pistons.

5. Atlanta Hawks: Simple & regal.

6. Los Angeles Lakers: Makes no geographic sense but pleasing to the ears.

7. Phoenix Suns: Perfect for the desert.

8. Golden State Warriors: Great name in Philly and Frisco.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Remarkably solid considering picked in 21st century.

10. Dallas Mavericks: Good play off Cowboys.

11. Cleveland Cavaliers: Has a nice ring to it.

12. Houston Rockets: Good tie-in to space industry.

13. Sacramento Kings: Sounds good, imagery shaky.

14. New Orleans Hornets: Not fancy, but Shinn's crew makes it work.

15. Memphis Grizzlies: Not great. Not bad.

16. Portland TrailBlazers: Almost always shortened.

17. Washington Wizards: I miss Bullets.

18. Denver Nuggets: Not crazy about mineral nicknames.

19. Chicago Bulls: Who says shorter is better?

20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Experts say Thunderbirds is too long. So why is Timberwolves OK?

21. San Antonio Spurs: No sizzle for a sizzling town.

22. Miami Heat: Best of singular names, which isn't saying much.

23. Toronto Raptors: Jurassic Park seems a long time ago.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Were all the plural names taken?

25. Milwaukee Bucks: Boring, boring, boring.

26. Utah Jazz: Good in New Orleans, stinks in Salt Lake.

27. Los Angeles Clippers: Nothing about this franchise works.

28. Indiana Pacers: Reference to another sport strange.

29. Orlando Magic: Tie to Disney World rather weak.

30. New Jersey Nets: Rhyming with Jets & Mets doesn't make it good.


Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford
Bookmark and Share



Comments

Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.

Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.

Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).

   
Thunders - please pass the shrimps. Or, the thunders scare me.
Jeffrey, Oklahoma City - Sep 4, 2008 11:42 AM
Report as inappropriate
Man, San Antonio, Miami and Chicago better just stop playing ball, there's no way they'll ever win championships with the names they have.
Oh, wait a minute . . . Interesting that 4 of the crappiest teams in the league are in Berry's top 10 of names. Listen folks, Names don't matter. W's and L's do. Amazing how cool the Bulls got when Jordan was lighting it up. Just win OKC!
Jeffrey, Oklahoma City - Sep 4, 2008 12:41 AM
Report as inappropriate
When I clicked on this headline I figured it would be some stupid thing Tramel did. And I was correct. PS: I didn't even look at his list!
Chris, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 8:50 PM
Report as inappropriate