Jazz Nicknames According To Basketball Reference

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – If you’re a fan of the Utah Jazz, you’ve undoubtedly visited basketball-reference, one of the best websites for tracking statistics in the NBA. But in addition to their incredible catalog of basketball numbers, the site also keeps a useful, though at times obscure collection of nicknames for each player in the league.

For example, while everyone knows former Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young as “Swaggy P,” basketball-reference also lists one of his nicknames as “Bean Burrito.”

With that in mind, let’s look at the nicknames assigned to Jazz players from the most well-known, to the most obscure according to basketball-reference.

Bojan Bogdanovic – Bogey

Admittedly one of the least interesting, though convenient nicknames. Bojan Bogdanovic is a bit of a mouthful in the flow of the game, so “Bogey” makes for a hand abbreviation.

Welcome to the Jazz, Bogey! pic.twitter.com/SLunEgvpDg

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) October 27, 2019

He also shares a nearly identical name with Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic who doesn’t have a nickname per basketball-reference.

Udoka Azubuike – Doke

Like Bogdanovic, Udoka Azubuike’s nickname is more a matter of function than cleverness.

“Doke” or “Dok” are both used interchangeably, though basketball-reference lists the nickname with an e.

Donovan Mitchell – Spider, Spida

There’s nothing necessarily boring about Donovan Mitchell’s nicknames, other than the fact that they are now used interchangeably with his actual name.

The guard earned them in the AAU circuit after a coach said he swung around the floor getting steals with the same agility as Spiderman.

Joe Ingles – Slow-Mo Joe, Jinglin’ Joe, Jingles

Joe Ingles also has several well-known nicknames. including the most apt name for his game “Slow-Mo Joe.”

SLOW. MO. JOE. pic.twitter.com/dOoFqyHpG5

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) January 21, 2016

The only knock on “Slow-Mo” is it’s already owned by Memphis Grizzlies guard Kyle Anderson who similarly plays a more deliberate style of basketball due to his lower-tier athleticism.

Mike Conley – Money Mike, Mountain Mike

Mike Conley’s nickname changed from “Money Mike” in Memphis where he was known for his clutch play to “Mountain Mike” in Utah to fit into the state’s natural scenery.

It’s alliterative and seems to fit as Conley himself has embraced the title.

Though basketball-reference doesn’t have them listed, the guard has also gone by the nicknames “MAC-10,” “The Conductor,” “Captain Clutch,” and “Masked Assassin” after breaking his cheekbone in 2015.

Jordan Clarkson – Flame Thrower

Jazz fans have probably seen the Jordan Clarkson “Flame Thrower” shirts floating around Vivint Arena. Joe Ingles even wore one when he surprised Clarkson with the Sixth Man of the Year Award.

Jordan Clarkson – Flame Thrower

Artwork commissioned by the @UtahJazz for Jordan Clarkson's Sixth Man of the Year Award campaign. pic.twitter.com/OSjXS2bbeW

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 24, 2020

Dating back to 2020, the Jazz actually used the nickname in Clarkson’s Sixth Man of the Year campaign in comic books they sent to media members who voted for the end-of-season awards.

Royce O’Neale – Big Meal

Quietly one of the best, and most obscure nicknames in the NBA. Rumor has it a family member of a Jazz employee actually gave Royce O’Neale the nickname and it stuck.

“Big Meal” is obscure, it doesn’t mean anything, but it rhymes, and it’s easy to say. Those aren’t bad things.

It’s a little surprising basketball-reference even found that one.

Rudy Gobert – The Stifle Tower, The French Rejection, The Gobert Report, Gobzilla

Rudy Gobert has some of the best nicknames in the NBA, as the “Stifle Tower” pays homage to both his presence on the floor and his French heritage. The same can be said for “The French Rejection” which is also a nod to the book and film “The French Connection.”

Godzilla vs. King Kong vs. @rudygobert27.

Which towering terror are you taking? #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/SyOe80Ds6Q

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 2, 2021

“The Gobert Report” has lost some traction after Stephen Colbert left “The Colbert Report” to host “The Late Show,” but as a sidenote enough, Gobert has said he prefers “Gobzilla” as his favorite nickname.

Rudy Gay – The Great Rudini, Big Truck, Truck

Rudy Gay has a few nicknames that Jazz fans may not be familiar with. “The Great Rudini” is perhaps his most well-known nickname in honor of his first name and the great magician Harry Houdini.

People call Rudy Gay “Big Truck”? I’ve literally never heard those words used in reference to a person, let alone Rudy Gay. pic.twitter.com/EpmnLk1TX4

— Ja'han Jones (@_Jahan) April 20, 2018

Fans may not know that Gay was given the nicknames “Truck” and “Big Truck” by former UConn head coach Jim Calhoun due to his resemblance to former Boston Celtics great Reggie Lewis.

Hassan Whiteside – Agent Block, Count Blockula

Apparently Hassan Whiteside likes the nickname “Agent Block” that now Jazz owner Dwyane Wade even gave the center a pair of custom slides with the name embroidered on them.

Hassan Whiteside AKA Agent Block. pic.twitter.com/OKz3oIKHln

— Miami Heat Brasil (@MiamiHeatBrasil) March 29, 2016

However, it’s hard to not love the nickname “Count Blockula” for the two-time NBA blocks leader. Better yet, it fits perfectly alongside former Jazz Rookie of the Year winner Darrell Griffth’s “Doctor Dunkenstein” moniker.

What do you think, what are your favorite Jazz nicknames according to basketball-reference?