Top 50 Names in Basketball (NBA) – Brevin, JaVale, Shaquille, Udonis

I published a list of my 50 favorite football names over a year ago, and a reader named Tiffany recently asked me if I’d compiled any similar lists since then. Nope, I haven’t…but now’s a great time for another.

I didn’t want to pull names from the same pool as before, so here are 50 unusual basketball names culled from the current NBA rosters:

• Adonal David Foyle (Magic)
• Beno Udrih (Kings)
• Brevin Knight (Jazz)
• Carmelo Kiyan Anthony (Nuggets)
• Channing Thomas Frye (Blazers)
• Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi “Emeka” Okafor (Bobcats)
• Daequan Cook (Heat)
• Darko Milicic (Grizzlies)
• DeSagana N’gagne Diop (Mavericks)
• Donyell Lamar Marshall (76ers)
• Fabricio Raul Jesus Oberto (Spurs)
• Hidayet “Hedo” Turkoglu (Magic)
• Hilton A. Armstrong, Jr. (Hornets)
• Ikechuku “Ike” Ndukwe (Blazers)
• Jamario Raman Moon (Raptors)
• JaVale McGee (Wizards)
• Javaris Cortez Crittenton (Grizzlies)
• Yi Jianlian (Nets) – given name is Jianlian
• Kelenna David Azubuike (Warriors)
• Keyon Latwae Dooling (Nets)
• Kobe Bean Bryant (Lakers)
• Kyrylo Fesenko (Jazz)
• LeBron Raymone James (Cavaliers)
• Lorenzen Wright (Cavaliers)
• Luol Michael Deng (Bulls)
• Maceo Demond Baston (Pacers)
• Marreese Speights (76ers)
• Maybyner Rodney Hilario (Nuggets) – legally changed his name to Nenê in 2003
• Mehmet Okur (Jazz)
• Yao Ming (Rockets) – given name is Ming
• Monta Ellis (Warriors)
• Nazr Tahiru Mohammed (Bobcats)
• Pau Gasol i Saez (Lakers)
• Predrag “Peja” Stojakovic (Hornets)
• Radoslav “Rasho” Nesterovic (Pacers)
• Raef Andrew LaFrentz (Blazers)
• Rajon Pierre Rondo (Celtics)
• Rasual Butler (Hornets)
• Roko Leni Ukic (Raptors)
• Samb Chiekh Tidiane (Nuggets)
• Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal (Suns)
• Stromile Swift (Nets)
• Tayshaun Durell Prince (Pistons)
• Tegba Othello Hunter (Hawks)
• Thabo Patrick Sefolosha (Bulls)
• Udonis Johneal Haslem (Heat)
• Vakeaton Quamar “Von” Wafer (Rockets)
• Yakhouba Diawara (Heat)
• Zaur “Zaza” Pachulia (Hawks)
• Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cavaliers)

I originally had Cuttino Rashawn Mobley of the Knicks on this list as well…then I learned that, just yesterday, he retired from the NBA because of a heart condition. Poor guy.

Of the above, do you have any favorites?