Do you have a nickname?
It’s not your birth name, but it’s how people refer to you. It would almost sound weird to not be called that.
Sometimes certain people have nicknames for you that no one else ever uses.
Like someone could be named Anthony and his friends call him Tony, but he’s got one friend who calls him Tony Sack of Sawdust because Tony enjoys woodworking.
We often can’t choose a nickname, and it’s always a wonder which ones will stick.
Here are five NBA players with some delightful nicknames.
Larry “Mr. Mean” Smith
As a person who grew up in the Midwest, I tend to be overly polite in social settings.
John Mulaney (another Midwesterner) has a bit about how when you want to order a Diet Coke, you say “may I please have a Diet Coke please?” and then you might get one.
Unless you’re Mick Jagger, in which case you yell “DIET COKE!” and one appears.
Larry Smith is not from the Midwest—he was born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi—but has the same kind demeanor, generally regarded as a nice guy by everyone he’s met.
So, how did he earn the nickname “Mr. Mean?” He got it from then-Alcorn State sports director Gus Howard, who said Smith never smiled and often had a scowl on his face.
Hey, sometimes you have to be mean to grab a board.
Andre “Big Penguin” Drummond
Occasionally, you get a nickname that you don’t understand. But then when you dig underneath the surface (or in this case, the ice), it all becomes clear.
CBS Sports did a glorious deep dive—ayeee, unintentional penguin jokes—into Drummond’s nickname.
He claimed to not know why he’s called “Big Penguin,” yet he’s admitted a penguin is one of his favorite animals on several occasions.
During his rookie season, he got interviewed by then-teammate Greg Monroe and said his favorite movies were March of the Penguins, Happy Feet 1, and Happy Feet 2.
Monroe even turns to the camera and said “maybe we should call you ‘Big Penguin.'”
I think you might have your answer there, Andre.
Mike Scott — “The Threegional Manager”
Mike Scott spent ten seasons in the NBA and joined France’s SLUC Nancy Basket in October of 2022.
Before that, he may have led a small paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Yes, Scott shares the same name as Steve Carell’s character on the beloved sitcom The Office, and as an adept three-point shooter, the NBA’s Scott earned a nifty nickname.
Thankfully, the real Michael Scott has a better game than the fictional one.
Rudy Gobert — “The Stifle Tower”
I’m headed on a European trip this spring. France will not be included on the agenda, largely because I’ve been there before.
Yes, I’ve seen the actual Eiffel Tower, though I’ve never made it to the one in Paris, Texas. That one has a cowboy hat at the top.
The Eiffel Tower is certainly impressive to look at. But if there were a tall Frenchman in front of it blocking shots (or even loaves of French bread)? It would be the greatest landmark in the whole world.
Theodore “Blue” Edwards
Blue Edwards had a propensity for knocking in game-winning shots. His most notable one came during the Vancouver Grizzlies’ inaugural season.
The team was in the midst of a 23-game losing streak and would have set the record for most losses in a row if not for Edwards hitting this jumper with under a second left.
Edwards was also involved in a highly publicized child custody case that stemmed from an affair he had while with the Grizzlies. He ultimately lost custody of the child.
The custody battle was the basis for a Canadian Television Network made-for-TV movie called Playing for Keeps, or What Color Is Love? in the U.S. All of that is absurd.
While that custody battle may have made him blue, his nickname stems from childhood. His sister went to check on him and saw he was choking, then ran to their mom, shouting, “You’ve got a blue boy! You’ve got a blue boy!”
The nickname stuck, though thankfully whatever was in Edwards’ throat didn’t.
Want even more nickname nonsense? I’ve got you covered.
This issue is presented by The Morning Blitz.
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