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The Coolest Sports Nicknames of All Time

Sports stars are not only athletically gifted, rich, famous, and typically have cool style, but they also have amazing nicknames. Whether it’s a player nickname they’ve had since childhood or something that appeared when they became a pro, there has been a plethora of awesome pseudonyms over the last decades in sport.

While it has been hard to whittle it down, here are the best sports nicknames to have existed since the dawn of time.

George Herman “Babe” Ruth

We bet you had no idea that Babe wasn’t his real name, right? Player nicknames are always the coolest when the nickname actually replaces the real name, as if it even feels weird to say the name they were born with. Babe is often cited as the best baseball slugger of all time, and it doesn’t hurt that the name is just so awesome.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Speaking of sports nicknames that take over the real name, it’s also hard to imagine calling the Lakers legend anything but, well, Magic. It perfectly describes his mystic playing style on the court, not to mention his charming personality, so much so that it should be illegal to call him Earvin at any point.

Michael “Air” Jordan

Kids today probably know Air Jordan as a shoe brand, but for those growing up in the 80s and 90s, Air Jordan was the basketball G.O.A.T: Michael Jordan. A simple nickname for his crazy hang time when flying through for a dunk, Air Jordan is just so perfect.

Vince Carter a.k.a “Vinsanity”/ Jeremy Lin a.k.a “Linsanity”

These sports nicknames are linked, but not in the way you might think. Vince Carter was one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers and amazing dunkers during the 2000s, earning himself the Vinsanity moniker. Jeremy Lin came along much later to the NBA, and picked up the Linsanity name for his incredibly surprising playing run during February-March in 2012 for the New York Knicks.

William “The Fridge” Perry

It’s not hard to understand why Perry was called The Fridge, especially when you see the 6’2”, 320-pound NFL running back charging at defenders. A giant of a man, Perry embodies a fridge in shape and weight like no one else.

Wayne Gretzky a.k.a “The Great One”

When you played in the NHL for over 20 years, have your no. 99 jersey retired by every team in the league, win four championships, and finish first in almost every record available in ice hockey, then yeah, you can be called The Great One.

“Pistol” Pete Marovich

Arguably one of the coolest player nicknames of all time, Pistol Pete was an NBA star during the 70s, and apparently picked up the moniker because of his fast passes, as well as the way he would seemingly shoot the ball starting from the hip.

Karl “The Mailman” Malone

You can always count on the Mailman to deliver, which is how Malone earned the awesome player nickname. Malone never won an NBA championship, but he does have an amazing label that will never be repeated.

Eric “Sleepy” Floyd

Another sportsman who was never called by his real name after his nickname of Sleepy became so popular. This NBA player was never a star by any means, but picked up the moniker because of his heavy eyelids that made him look tired at all times.

Kobe Bryant a.k.a “Black Mamba”

The sports world mourned the death of Kobe Bryant in 2020, but he left behind such an incredible legacy. Kobe not only won five championships with the Lakers, but his intense work ethic and desire to compete at any cost was also something to be marveled at. His Black Mamba nickname perfectly describes his spirit animal and ability to strike hard at any time.

Charles “The Round Mound of Rebound” Barkley

While Sir Charles was another player nickname bestowed on the famous Charles Barkley, it has to be the Round Mound of Rebound as the most amazing moniker he could possibly have. Charles was a big guy and a great rebounder, so it just makes perfect sense, plus the rhyming is totally on point.

Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway

Did anyone call Penny by his real name? It just doesn’t feel right, such was the great sports nickname reportedly given to Anfernee by his grandma when he was only a kid. The nickname was so great (as was the player before injuries derailed his NBA career), that it even inspired a Lil’ Penny doll and ensuing commercials.

LeBron “The King” James

Nothing gives you respect from the rest of the league when your player nickname is The King. LeBron is still going, but already with four championships and the prospect of being titled the basketball G.O.A.T one day, it’s not hard to see why you should call him a royal name.

Giannis Antetokounmpo a.k.a “The Greek Freak”

Usually, being called a freak is something quite negative. However, in this instance, it’s simply to summarize Giannis’ freakish athletic skills, as there’s literally no one else in the NBA who can do the things he does. Plus, as he’s from Greece and has a name that’s hard to say and difficult to spell, the Greek Freak is just way more fun.

Joe Montana a.k.a “Joe Cool”

A straightforward sports nickname, but well, Joe Montana was cool and calm under pressure as an NFL quarterback. So why not call him Joe Cool? He had the talent and demeanor to win when the going was tough, so the nickname just lands.

Nick Young a.k.a “Swaggy P”

Nick Young was an average-to-good NBA player during his time, but for whatever reason, his Swaggy P nickname (that he gave himself) just stuck somehow. No one really knows what it means, especially as there isn’t the letter P in his name at all, but it made Swaggy P a bit of a cult hero around the league.

His most swaggiest moment was with the Lakers in 2014, when he shot a three-pointer and turned around to celebrate, but the problem? The ball didn’t go in the hoop and he essentially threw his arms up to celebrate a missed shot. But still, that was Swaggy P and we love him for it.

Mario Lemieux a.k.a “Super Mario”

Not the Nintendo video game character, but instead, one of ice hockey’s greatest players. He was smooth and fast on the rink, and if it weren’t for a certain Wayne Gretzky, then Super Mario would easily be the greatest hockey player of all time. He was someone who deserved more limelight during his career, but at least he gets a spot on this player nickname list.

Calvin “Megatron” Johnson

Calvin Johnson? Nah, just call him Megatron instead. The No. 2 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft was a strong, quick, and physically imposing player who spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions. Of course, any Transformers fan immediately thinks of the leader of the dastardly Decepticons, but for Lions supporters, Megatron was the team’s great wide receiver that earned six Pro Bowl selections, 731 career receptions for 11,619 yards, and 83 touchdowns.

Marshawn Lynch a.k.a “Beast Mode”

Retired NFL running back, Marshawn Lynch, was a powerful player that quickly earned him the incredible sports nickname that is, Beast Mode. This is no ambiguous, confusing nickname that requires debate… it’s a label that essentially does what it says on the tin. Lynch at his beastliest was scoring a massive 67-yard touchdown when playing for Seattle in 2010, when he shrugged off not one, not two, but eight defenders to run into the end zone.

Anthony “Spud” Webb

A small yet incredibly talented NBA athlete, Spud was one of the most popular players during the 80s, most notably for his slam dunk contest wins. The origins of the nickname are dubious, but one story tells of the nickname existing because Anthony’s head looked like a potato when he was a kid. Make of that what you will, but it’s a fun nickname.

“Iron” Mike Tyson

Is there much of a debate on why you need to call him Iron Mike? His punches were as hard as metal, so there’s no reason to call him anything else. Plus, who really wants to call him anything else for fear of being hit?

Nikola “Joker” Jokic

He’s not known to be particularly funny or some sort of villain in the NBA, but well, Joker just sounds cool and is very close to Jokic. Sometimes there’s very little reasoning behind the nickname but it works.

Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon

Another “it sounds like his name” sports nickname, The Dream actually does kind of describe his playing style on the court: A bit trippy, memorable, and puts you in a trance.

Allen Iverson a.k.a “The Answer”

What is the question? That’s a bit hard to say exactly, but whatever it was, Iverson was The Answer. Iverson was seen as the future of the 2000s NBA, and although he never won a championship, he was a style trendsetter and one of the best scorers that the league has ever seen.

Author: Joe Garland