NBA offseason research project time baby!
I mean they got them all and maybe even made some up on their own.
We start today with the 1940’s through 1950s.
Whatever those “Boomers” meant by that.
No other site can compete with this.
Spoiler alert to the modern day, but they even outed Boston Celtic Robert “Boo Butt” Williams.
Why was he called “Boo Butt”?
Because his sister called him that when they were kids.
The word cloud above does what word clouds do and makes the most common nicknames bigger.
AKA Poppin' Paul.
See Paul pitchin'.
See Paul Poppin'.
Poppin' was one of the original jump shooters in the NBA.
Not sure if “Jumping Jack” would have something to say about that though.
Imagine being an OG of something so rudimentary.
But the best factoid I found was that he was also known as the original grunter.
Dude had a chrinic sinus problem.
Because of that he apparently wheezed, groaned and moaned down the court all the time.
A true LeBron James of his time.
He also had a blatant cowlick on the back of his head making him the OG Alfalfa as well.
Just an OG of OGs.
“Blubber” AKA “Butterball” AKA “Fat Freddie” (Fred Scolari)
#Mean.
Evidently, this wasn’t enough to get a sympathy nickname.
And yes, he struggled with his weight.
But the coolest thing about him is that he literally “shot from the hip”.
How absolutely hilarious that was a viable technique in the late 1940s.
Did I mention he was 5'10"?
Wembanyama would block that with a shoelace loop.
HOUDINI OFF!!!!
But that’s what makes a great Houdini.
Not only was this a Houdini Off - but a Bob Off as well!
“Sluggish Cluggish” (Bob Cluggish)
Exactly what it sounds like.
Bob was awful and slow and they told it like it was.
you’re free to’t have a last name of “Cluggish” and be a professional athlete.
You just can’t.
He played for the Knicks most of his career before his final couple seasons in Detroit.
I guess “Dick the Pis” didn’t quite catch on.
“Boom Boom” (Ernie Beck and Clyde Lovellette)
Not one “Boom”.
Two “Booms”.
And not just one “Boom Boom”.
Two “Boom Booms”.
Both players entered the league in 1953 creating a boom boom in “Boom Booms”.
Only one other “Boom Boom” (Ray Williams - 1973) made their way to the NBA.
I think a “Boom Boom” comeback needs to happen.
That’s some 1950s swag right there.
But there’s actually six “Big Cat’s” total throughout NBA history.
I don’t know, just seems like we could go with something a little more athletic sounding.
A little less like you’re sitting on the couch just watching sports and losing bets.
Better than “Blubber” though, I guess.
Can’t wait to check back in soon with the next batch.
Until then, stay Pitchin'.
