Giannis Antetokounmpo’s nickname: Catchy because it rhymes
Joel Embiid was a project player when he was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014. He was selected six days after having surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot. After several setbacks, he finally made his regular-season debut in 2016, more than two years after he was drafted. Along the way, the Sixers habit of drafting players who were either injured or not ready to contribute right away became known as “The Process.” Eventually, the moniker stuck to Embiid, who can often be heard telling reporters to “Trust the Process” in reference to himself. There’s just one problem, it’s not catchy.
A great nickname has a ring to it. It flows off of the tongue with ease. In the ’90s Snoop Dogg made a reference to Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield in the smash hit “Gin and Juice.” To this day, the phrase “The Hick From French Lick” requires no further explanation. Everyone who hears it knows it is a reference to Larry Bird. While many of today’s players have fitting nicknames, no one has a moniker as catchy as the one that belongs to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis’ nickname flows so well that it has become a part of his line of sneakers and t-shirts. Playing for the small-market Milwaukee Bucks, it would be easy for advertisers to side-step the two-time MVP in favor of players in bigger cities. However, Giannis has avoided this pitfall and has just as many ads as any other top-five basketball player in the world. While his play on the court deserves the majority of the credit, his nickname has definitely boosted his marketability.