With respect to our parents, sometimes in life, our given names fall to the wayside as we grow older. By luck, circumstance, or choice, nicknames can often take center stage and eventually become a part our new identities. This is especially true in sports, where nicknames sometimes help to define a player, and the NBA is no exception.
Some nicknames are obvious and timeless, like “MJ” or “AI”. Others may come about organically but take root quickly like Paul Pierce’s “The Truth” or Kevin Garnett being known as “The Big Ticket.” Still other nicknames are hard-fought and self-enforced, like “Batman” was for Grant Williams.
There are plenty of nicknames to go around when it comes to the 2023-24 Boston Celtics. Some of these will be familiar to fans and really fit the player. If we’re being honest, however, some of the player nicknames on this Celtics team may be a little surprising or need an update. Let’s hop in and sort out what’s what.