The History of Basketball Team Names
Variety is the spice of life. Such a sentiment also holds true with NBA team nicknames. The NBA has a history of producing team nicknames ranging from cool to quirky. Many of these nicknames carry a fascinating origin story.
NBA teams have earned their nicknames in a variety of ways, which become a part of the team's culture and identity. Some were chosen through fan vote. Others drew on names with historical significance in their original geographic location. A few teams simply hung onto nicknames after moving from one city to another. A few NBA team nicknames stand out from the crowd with unique origins: Atlanta Hawks A majestic bird did not serve as the original nickname inspiration. The franchise entered the NBA in 1948 as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. The Tri-Cities were Moline and Rock Island, Ill., and Davenport, Iowa. It drew the nickname from Sauk Indian Chief Black Hawk. The team later shortened it to Hawks after moving to Milwaukee in 1951, before moving to Atlanta in 1968. Chicago Bulls When Chicago entered the NBA in 1966, the franchise selected a nickname referencing the city's heritage as the meatpacking capital of the world. NBA.com notes this happened by accident: Richard Klein, the team's original owner, was kicking around names like the Matadors or the Toreadors with his family when his son said, “Dad, that’s a bunch of bull!” It inspired Klein to call his new team the Bulls. Detroit Pistons Original team owner Fred Zollner nicknamed the team the Zollner Pistons when he started the franchise in Fort Wayne, Ind. It was named after a product Zollner manufactured for automobiles. The nickname was shortened to Pistons by 1948. The name stuck when the team relocated to Detroit in 1957 since it felt like a natural fit for the Motor City. Los Angeles Lakers Southern California conjures up images of surf and sand more than lakes. Still, the Lakers name has been a part of the franchise's identity since it entered the NBA. When the team set up shop in Minneapolis in 1947, team investors chose a name that drew on Minnesota's state motto “The Land of 10,000 Lakes.” The Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and the franchise simply decided to keep the name. New York Knicks Knicks is short for Knickerbockers. What is a Knickerbocker? It referred to a type of pants worn by Dutch settlers in New York during the 17th century. This staple of Dutch fashion became a cultural icon that original team owner Ned Irish embraced when he started his basketball franchise in 1946. In fact, the first New York baseball team in 1845 was known as the Knickerbocker Nine. Utah Jazz Utah isn't exactly famous for its Jazz music scene. The nickname goes back to the franchise's roots in New Orleans, where it entered the NBA in 1974. Jazz music originated in the Big Easy, so it felt natural to associate a Louisiana basketball team with that name. When the team moved to Utah in 1979, it held onto the nickname.
