Do NBA players just choose any name they want?

[iamgine]

For example, Bam Adebayo's real name is Edrice Adebayo. Trae's first name is Rayford. We all know Magic Johnson. And then them Spanish whose middle name are their actual last name. Like Pau Gasol Saez.

Do they just decide on any name they wanted?

[L.Kizzle]

Wardell Curry

[Duffy Pratt]

I think Metta World Peace just about sums it up.

[FultzNationRISE]

Reminds me of all the brazilian footballers who just go by a mononym. Neymar, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Willian, Pelé.

[pandiani17]

For example, Bam Adebayo's real name is Edrice Adebayo. Trae's first name is Rayford. We all know Magic Johnson. And then them Spanish whose middle name are their actual last name. Like Pau Gasol Saez.

Do they just decide on any name they wanted?

I am Spanish and the way it works is this. Pau is his name, Gasol is his father's surname and Saez his mother's surname. Actually, we tend to have eight surnames, four from the father's side of the family and four from the mother's side of the family. I suppose it can sound weird for foreigners.

[Jasper]

all NBA players names are factices.

(They don't want you to know where they live)

[Nowoco]

I think Metta World Peace just about sums it up.

World B. Free walked so Metta World Peace could run.

[Im Still Ballin]

Dolph Schayes. The classiest name in NBA history.

Schayes. Dolph Schayes.

[BarberSchool]

^He certainly wasn’t going to stick with Adolph Shayes lol

Somebody find out what these dudes real names are:

Hot Rod Williams (hot plate more like)

Mookie Blaylock

Fat Lever (I think it’s Lafayette)

Dj Strawberry

Popeye Jones

God Shammgod
(Dude had to change his name when he did the knowledge of self lol) (probably born Rodney Tompkins or something like that)

[FKAri]

They're stage names. LeBron's not even a real name.

[Kblaze8855]

I imagine So. Most people do. I bet 20% of the people I know don’t go by their actual government first name.

[tpols]

White people don't do that. Black people been changing their birth names like Ali and Kareem.

[Kblaze8855]

An incredible number of white celebrities are also not using their birth names, but that isn’t even what I’m talking about. We’re talking about nicknames. At least that’s what it seemed like to me.

[BarberSchool]

An incredible number of white celebrities are also not using their birth names, but that isn’t even what I’m talking about. We’re talking about nicknames. At least that’s what it seemed like to me.

Most of the “white” entertainers you’re talking about are Jewish. And don’t even get me started on how many times those families have changed their names, sometimes out of necessity during periods of intense persecution, sometimes to hide past family crimes and start over somewhere new, or to “wear a mask” so others get the blame…. Also … Jews don’t consider themselves white, until it’s advantageous to do so.

Example:

Gene Simmons of corny band KISS
-real name : Xa’im ‘Vitz

Rodney Dangerfield
-real name : Yakub Kohanim

Sumner Redstone
-real name : Sumner Rothstein

Brad Garrett
-Gerstenfeld

Etc

[BarberSchool]

I am Spanish and the way it works is this. Pau is his name, Gasol is his father's surname and Saez his mother's surname. Actually, we tend to have eight surnames, four from the father's side of the family and four from the mother's side of the family. I suppose it can sound weird for foreigners.

How ridiculous-sounding is Pau’s full 8-surname combo ?

Makes sense, to respect all surnames within one’s lineage, but sheesh, gotta be a mouthful every time.