Basketball Nicknames of the 80s Quiz

Answer: The Dream

Hakeem "the Dream" Olajuwon was a player for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors between the years 1984 to 2002. Born and raised in Nigeria, Olajuwon moved to the United States in order to attend college at the University of Houston. Despite not being a star right off the bat, he sought advice from Moses Malone, put in a lot of hard work, and became one of the game's best centers. His nickname, "the Dream", was given because of his dunking ability. A coach remarked that his dunking "looked like a dream" and the name stuck.

Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted in 1984 by the Houston Rockets with the first overall pick. He won the NBA championship with them twice, in 1994 and in 1995. He was named the Finals MVP both times, and in 1994 was the league MVP as well. He was picked to 12 different all-star teams and was the third player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double. In his final season he was traded to the Toronto Raptors where he recorded career lows, which, in addition to a back injury, contributed to his decision to retire.

Answer: The Hick from French Lick

Larry Bird was an outstanding forward for the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992. He was also part of the United States men's basketball team when he was chosen at the age of 35 to be part of the 1992 squad that would be called the "Dream Team". This team would ultimately go on to go undefeated and win the gold medal, with the smallest margin of victory being 38 points against Puerto Rico.

In college, Larry Bird played for mainly Indiana State and the 1979 college championship game broke records for viewership because of his matchup against Michigan State point guard Earvin Johnson. This rivalry would endure into their NBA careers, when Bird would go to the Celtics as the 6th overall pick in 1978 and Johnson would go to the Lakers in the following year.

As a Celtic, Bird initially signed a contract making him the highest-paid rookie in the NBA. He immediately made an impact on the team making them a title contender overnight. He won three championships in his career, 1981, 1984, and 1986, and was named Finals MVP in the latter two of those. He was league MVP three times in a row from 1984 to 1986, and was a twelve-time member of the All-Star team.

Larry Bird's nicknames included "Larry Legend" as well as "The Hick from French Lick", referring to his hometown of French Lick, Indiana.

Answer: The Glide

Clyde Drexler was a shooting guard and small forward for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets, as well as the United States 1992 Olympic team that was often referred to as the "Dream Team". He played between the years of 1983 to 1998 and is often regarded as one of the best shooting guards in the history of the NBA.

Clyde Drexler played for the University of Houston before being drafted in 1983 by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 14th pick of the draft. It was at Houston where he got his nickname, "the Glide", for his amazing aerial abilities. He played for Portland until 1995 when he was traded to the Houston Rockets, winning his only championship in that season after the move. He was also a ten-time All-Star and also an amazing offensive rebounder.

Answer: The Mailman

Karl Malone was a power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz, between the years of 1985 to 2003, and the final year with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a member of the 1992 "Dream Team", the United States Olympic team that represented at the 1992 Olympics and won the gold medal in a dominating fashion. His partnership with John Stockton is considered to be one of the best pairings in NBA history.

Karl Malone played college ball at Louisiana Tech and was drafted by the Jazz with the 13th overall pick. He had an immediate impact on the team and, with Stockton's assists, became the offensive leader on the team. Over the course of his career, he would be picked to be in the All-Star game 14 times and was the league MVP in both 1997 and 1999. He is widely considered to be one of the best NBA players to have never won a championship.

Karl Malone was given the nickname "the Mailman" for consistently being able to deliver, day in and day out.

Answer: Magic

One of the best point guards that has ever played the game of basketball, Earvin Johnson Jr. was better known by his nickname - "Magic". He spent his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and was part of the "Showtime" era of flashy Laker ball that led to a very successful team. He played between the years of 1979 to 1991, and again in 1996. He was also part of the United States national team that went to the 1992 Olympics and was known as the "Dream Team".

Drafted out of Michigan State with the first overall pick of the 1979 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, he had already received the nickname "Magic". In fact, he got the name in high school when he led Everett High School to an amazing record and the state championship. When he joined the Lakers, Magic Johnson was paired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the hopes were that this duo would take the Lakers to the championship. They weren't wrong.

Magic Johnson led the Lakers to five championships, in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and again in 1988. He was the Finals MVP for three of those trophies, and the league MVP in 1987, 1989, and 1990. He was a twelve-time All-Star and a record-setting player in many categories. He retired abruptly when a physical revealed that he had contracted HIV, and has dedicated his life to advocate for awareness about the virus.

Answer: Dr. J

Julius Erving was one of the most prolific small forwards to play basketball. He started his career in the ABA, opting not to finish his college degree at the University of Massachusetts, but barring him from being drafted by any NBA team. He was on the Virginia Squires for two seasons, then a part of the New York Nets for another three seasons. He excelled in all seasons of the ABA. When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, the Nets sold Erving's rights to the Philadelphia 76ers.

In his first season with the Sixers, Erving helped the team reach the NBA Finals where they eventually lost. However, the team stayed strong and managed to be successful throughout Erving's career. He also had an intense rivalry with the nearby Boston Celtics and their star, Larry Bird. He would eventually win the NBA Championship in 1983, when he was paired with Moses Malone, adding to the two ABA championships he had. Erving was also named league MVP in 1981, one of his strongest seasons.

Julius Erving received his nickname in high school. A friend of his, Leon Saunders, was called "the professor" and Erving was called "the doctor". This would eventually evolve into "Dr. Julius" and from there to "Dr. J".

Answer: Chairman of the Boards

Moses Malone was one of the more dominant centers of his era and one of the finest players in basketball. A journeyman, he played for nine teams over the course of his career, 1974 to 1995. He started out in the ABA, and, with the 1976 merger of the two leagues, he moved into the NBA. His one championship came with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1982-1983 season when he was paired with Julius Erving, and he was named Finals MVP as well. He was also league MVP three times, in 1979, 1982, and 1983. A twelve-time All-Star in the NBA, he was also named to one ABA All-Star team.

Moses Malone was a dominant rebounder on both the defensive and offensive glass. He led his leagues in rebounding nine times over his career. This led to his nickname, "Chairman of the Boards", and it was certainly well-deserved.

Answer: The Human Highlight Film

Dominique Wilkins was a small forward who played basketball between 1982 to 1999 in both the NBA and in Europe. The majority of his career was spent with the Atlanta Hawks who picked him up from the Utah Jazz after they drafted him third overall in the 1982 NBA Draft. Desperate for cash, the Jazz were willing to give up Wilkins in exchange for one million dollars and two insignificant players in one of the most unfair deals in NBA history.

Wilkins eventually became a nine-time All-Star between the years 1986 to 1994. He never won an NBA Championship, however, with Panathinaikos he did win the Greek Cup as well as the EuroLeague. With Fortitudo Bologna, Wilkins won the Italian Cup as well. He also won the NBA slam dunk competition twice, in 1985 and in 1990. His flashy dunks and amazing aerial abilities earned him the nickname "the Human Highlight Film" and he always made exciting moves on the court.

Answer: Big Game

James Worthy played in the NBA from 1982 to 1994 for his entire career as a power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. Drafted with the first overall pick of the 1982 NBA Draft out of the University of North Carolina, he immediately went to work with the "Showtime" offense. He had a stellar rookie season that was cut short when he landed awkwardly and broke his leg in mid-April. However, he recovered for the next season, and became one of the best small forwards to play the game.

Worthy really thrived in the playoffs. In fact, his statistics were considerably improved from his already-great regular season stats when it was the postseason. This gained him the nickname "Big Game James". With the Lakers, Worthy won the NBA Finals three times in 1985, 1987, and 1988, and was the Finals MVP in the last of these. He was also named as a seven-time All-Star.

Answer: The Chief

Robert Parish was a 7' 1" center who is considered one of the best players to have played in the NBA. He played college ball at Centenary College, but due to an NCAA injunction, none of his statistics were included in their records. He was still drafted 8th overall in the 1976 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. Despite his contributions, the Warriors were in a decline that didn't stop despite Parish's stellar play. In 1980, the Warriors traded Parish for the first overall draft pick to the Boston Celtics. Alongside Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, Parish shone.

In the 14 seasons he played for the Celtics, Parish won three NBA Championships, in 1981, 1984, and in 1986. In 1994, Parish signed with the Charlotte Hornets, and in 1996 he played his final season in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, winning a fourth NBA Championship. He became the oldest player to win the NBA Finals, and played in 1,611 games in the NBA, a record as well when he retired.

Robert Parish was nicknamed "the Chief" by teammate Cedric Maxwell, who likened his stoic demeanour to that of a fictional Native American - Chief Bromden.