Best NBA Player Nicknames as 2019-20 Regular Season Tips Off

Since Adam Silver took over as NBA commissioner in 2014, both he and the league have taken strides to focus on the more light-hearted and entertaining aspects of the game, as well as player empowerment.

Perhaps, none more notable than the NBA's decision to allow players to wear their own nicknames on the back of their jerseys in a 2014 regular-season game between the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets.

Nicknames have been a large part of NBA player culture throughout the league's history, but they've arguably never been more common in NBA fan culture than they are now. Having a grasp on star players' nicknames is also a great way to come up with hilarious fantasy basketball team names.

With that in mind, here's a look at five of our favorite NBA player nicknames as the 2019-20 campaign tips off.

Best NBA Nicknames

5. Swipa [the Fox]

De'Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings, Point Guard

4. Ice Trae

Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks, Point Guard

3. Joker

Nikola Jokić – Denver Nuggets, Center

2. Muscle Chestbrook

Russell Westbrook – Houston Rockets, Point Guard

1. Maple Jordan

RJ Barrett – New York Knicks, Rookie Shooting Guard

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David Hayes is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, David Hayes also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username DavidWHayes. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.