Have you wondered how your favorite NBA team got its name? Well now you have an answer! Over at Canada's SportsNet, Isaac Owusu put together an exhaustive list of every NBA team's nickname and its origins. It's a great read, so check it out. But one thing you might notice in reading is that a lot of the older nicknames of NBA teams were WAY cooler than the ones they have now. Like the San Antonio Spurs, for instance.
POLL: What’s Your Favorite Abandoned Team Name In The NBA?
San Antonio Spurs
In 1973, the ABA’s “Dallas Chaparrals” were purchased and moved to San Antonio, re-named the Gunslingers. Before the team’s first game, ownership changed the name to the Spurs. Legend has it, part owner, Red McCombs wanted to pay tribute to his hometown and fought to name them the Spurs.
The Chaparrals! The Gunslingers! Either one would be so much better than the plain, old Spurs name. With that in mind, let’s run down some of the failed team names from Owusu’s list.
Not every team has an alternate (like the Celtics, Warriors, Pistons) and not every failed nickname listed here was ever actually used. But damnit, they should have been. Wouldn't the NBA be more fun if these were the team nicknames we had to choose from?
- Bison
- Dragons
- Matadors
- Wranglers
- Larks
- Braves
- Gems
- Mounties Vice
- Polars
- Americans
- Cougars
- Twisters
- Challengers
- Nationals
- Scorpions
- Gunslingers
- Royals
- HuskiesDukes
- Sea Dogs
Seriously, we all need to go out and make our own Phoenix Scorpions jerseys immediately. And/or Charlotte Dragons jerseys. Anyway, you should really read the context behind each name over at Sportsnet. And in the meantime, vote for your favorite team/name combo in the poll below.
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