You can’t put your finger on it, don’t know when the sounds last left your lips, but you know it to be true: you do not speak your best friend’s name. Not really. Broaden this to anyone you met through sport? Fuhgedabowdit—chances are you don’t even know some of their real names.
It may be paradoxical, but the truth is indeed universal: our names—the first markers of our identities—are of least importance to those we hold closest. Etymologically, “nickname” comes from “ekename,” a compound word meaning additional name, which became “nekename,” through misdivision. You can put together the rest from there. In professional sports, earning a nickname that fans know you by is a neon sign that lights up the night, flashing for all to read: mama, I made it.
With a rich history in nicknames—think “Big Dog,” “Turkish Thunder,” and “Splash Mountain,” among many others—and with the 2025–26 season knocking on the door, it’s time to (re)familiarise ourselves with the current Milwaukee Bucks’ handles. Just how good is their name game? Let’s take a look.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo—The Greek Freak
Rhyme? Check. Nod to heritage? Check. Commentary on gameplay? Check. This one ticks all the boxes and will be uttered for as long as the NBA remains in human consciousness—Giannis is that great. From his signature shoes to the fact that he’s trademarked the name, it’s clear Giannis embraces it too.
“I just went on the court one day, and I had like a crazy dunk or a crazy block, and after that, everyone started calling me The Greek Freak. So it stuck by me, I love it, and it’s a cool nickname,” he said in a 2020 appearance on Capture Sports Marketing’s Athletes Doing Good Radiothon on ESPN.
The moniker may have lost some of its sting, but that’s only because Giannis, in the ways only he can, has evolved beyond a mere “Freak.” It’s too bad Rick James sexualised “Super Freak” so much (though I don’t think Giannis would mind). Either way, “The Greek Freak” remains an iconic nickname for an iconic player, claiming the rightful number one place on this list.
2. AJ Green—Dairy Bird/AJ Automatic
While a true reflection of his shooting prowess, “AJ Automatic” has never quite felt right, no matter how hard Lisa Byington tries (editor’s note: I always wish we’d tried AJ Greenlight too). Thankfully, “Dairy Bird” does. Paying homage to Wisconsin’s status as “America’s Dairyland” and all-time great Larry Bird’s shooting form and accuracy, “Dairy Bird” is just fun. It both compliments and mocks—like any really good nickname should. It also doesn’t hurt that Green looks like he’s straight from the farm. With Green’s recent 4-year, $45m contract extension, new starting role, and high-flying antics, perhaps there are layers of bird symbolism as well (okay, too much, I know).
3. Bobby Portis—The Mayor of Milwaukee/Crazy Eyes/Bobby Buckets
Portis collects nicknames like he does shot attempts. And like those attempts, some are better than others. “Crazy Eyes” speaks for itself and attests to Portis’ combative energy, but lacks any real flair, while “Bobby Buckets” is improved—both alliterative and apt for his game as a bench gunner. But the cream of the crop is “The Mayor of Milwaukee.” Portis brings the vibes like no other and will forever have the keys to MKE—and Bucks fans’ hearts.
4. Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony—T-Shirt Twins/Mosquito Fleet
In the absence of individual nicknames, Anthony and Rollins’ preseason play has presented the rare opportunity for a collaboration—an honour usually reserved for iconic duos (think “The Twin Towers” and “The Splash Brothers”).
Their matching on-court accessories led to Locked on Bucks’ Camille Davis dubbing them the “T-Shirt Twins,” while Brew Hoop’s own Jack Trehearne coined “Mosquito Fleet” in reference to their preseason—I hear Clyde Frazier’s voice—synergy and tenacity. Both pop, but it’s the latter that’s elite.
5. Thanasis Antetokounmpo—Thanasty
Every now and then, Thanasis will do something that makes you jump out of your chair—a putback dunk, a shammgod, a monster block—that highlights just why the wordplay of “Thanasty” works. Of course, too often it works the other way too, where his play is nasty in the literal sense of the word. All things considered, “Thanasty” is actually quite apt.
6. Jericho Sims—Jumpman
With Damian Lillard out of town, Sims might have more luck getting “Jumpman” to stick. Yes, it belongs to Michael Jordan—and Sims isn’t even in the same stratosphere as a player—but if there’s one thing he can go chest-to-chest with against anyone, it’s hops. Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman… yeah, they’re definitely up to something with that.
7. Kevin Porter Jr.—Scooter/Sakuta
Porter’s nickname has been around nearly as long as he has. As reported by the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathon Feigen, Porter explained that his auntie gave him the nickname because of the way he first moved: “I didn’t crawl when I was little. I kind of scooted on my back. She called me ‘Scooter.’”
The name has since evolved into “Sakuta,” the Japanese version of the word—and Porter’s preferred version—though you’ll frequently hear coaches and teammates refer to him as “Scoot.” Overall, it gets points for longevity, and the Japanese variant adds some edge, but ultimately it lacks the hoops connection to really leave a mark.
8. Andre Jackson Jr.—Ajax/Action Jackson
The portmanteau “Ajax” rolls off the tongue but would land better as an allusion to the household cleaning brand if Jackson were (1) a household name and (2) a renowned rebounder. “Action Jackson”—a popular 1970s action figurine and 1988 action film—is an improved nickname for the third-year wing, speaking to Jackson’s frenetic play. However, it’s more a name of convenience than substance—for all of Jackson’s action, there’s very little that actually happens.
9. Amir Coffey—The Folgers Soldier
Unofficially, Coffey was dubbed “The Folgers Soldier” while with the Clippers, and the pun works well enough, with the assonance making it snappy. Yet, there’s a reason it hasn’t really caught on. With reports that he’s made the Bucks’ final roster, Coffey offers commentators and fans alike the chance to coin a name tailor-made for the Cream City—can you imagine what Marques Johnson will come up with?
10. Gary Harris—G-Money/Gary “Gary Harris” Harris
Harris’ nickname is “G-Money,” a combination of his first initial and penchant for accurate distance shooting, but it’s so trite it may as well not exist. In fact, there was a long-running joke about Harris’ lack of a real nickname, leading to the viral “Gary ‘Gary Harris’ Harris” moniker. This is fun and, at this stage of Harris’ career, likely the best he’ll get.
11. Myles Turner—Samurai Myles
Basketball Reference lists “Samurai Myles” as Turner’s moniker, and there is memorabilia out there somewhere, but if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard someone say it, I’d be a very poor man—it’s safe to say you have to be a Pacers sicko for it to be part of your vernacular. Stemming from his hairstyle change years ago, the name’s got some style to it, but it doesn’t really speak to his game, and unsurprisingly, flamed out in Indiana. A change in scenery warrants something fresh and decisive—just like his game.
12. Taurean Prince—TP
Initials can make for creative nicknames, but there’s got to be at least some level of layering to them. Unfortunately, “TP” is as generic as they come. Considering Prince is most valuable as a range shooter—he finished third in the league in three-point accuracy last year at 43.9%—the “TP for three” rhyme improves this somewhat, giving it a modicum of panache, but “AK-47” it is not. If only “Chamillionaire” had stuck instead.
13. Kyle Kuzma—Kuz
Let’s call a spade a spade: abbreviations are the layman’s nicknames, not the stuff of elite athletes—let alone ones with Kuz’s (oops), err… eccentricities. But after last year’s postseason and with Kuzma at the top of every Bucks fan’s offseason trade list, perhaps it is best to stick with “Kuz,” at least for the time being.
14. Gary Trent Jr.
Not much to see here, folks. As the third-ranked player on this Bucks squad, Trent deserves better. He comes from great nickname lineage too—you should remember Gary Trent Sr. as “Shaq of the MAC” for his dominance at Ohio University where he was a three-time MAC Player of the Year. Let’s get something done.
Grade: Incomplete
15. Tyler Smith
Nicknames are the last thing on Tyler Smith’s mind, with the sophomore missing out on one of the team’s final roster spots. Should he nab a role elsewhere and the silhouette—a sniper with size—gets filled out, a handle is sure to follow (editor’s note: didn’t some call him Smitty?). All the best, Tyler.
Grade: Incomplete
How would you do the rankings? Customise your order below, then jump to the comments to share your thoughts—and why your handle is what it is.