The recent Ultimate Hoops Bracket Challenge to pick the best team name in UH this season got me to thinking: What are the best nicknames in NBA history?

No other professional sports league can boast neither the quantity nor the creativity of nicknames that have become iconic to fans around the world. Name drop "The King”,  “The Greek Freak” or “The Beard” and even the casual fan knows which NBA star you’re talking about.

The older generation of NBA fans grew up with posters on their bedroom walls of “Air” Jordan, “Pistol” Pete, and “Dr. J.”  So let’s play the name game and take a look at the best nickname in franchise history for each NBA team.

Atlanta Hawks 

Dominque “The Human Highlight Film” Wilkins, honorable mention to Wayne “Tree” Rollins, Glenn “Doc” Rivers, and Anthony “Spud” Webb

Boston Celtics 

Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell, honorable mention to John “Hondo” Havlicek, Paul “The Truth” Pierce, and Robert “The Chief” Parish

Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie “Uncle Drew” Irving, honorable mention to Kenyon “K-mart” Martin

Charlotte Hornets 

Tyrone “Mugsy” Bogues, honorable mention to Larry “Grandmama” Johnson

Chicago Bulls

Michael “Air” Jordan, honorable mention to Bob “Butterbean” Love

Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron “The King” James, honorable mention to Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, Bobby “Bingo” Smith, and John “Hot Rod” Williams

Dallas Mavericks 

Brian “The Custodian” Cardinal

Denver Nuggets

David “Skywalker” Thompson, honorable mention to Nikola “The Joker” Jokic

Detroit Pistons 

Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson, honorable mention to John “Spider” Salley and Dennis “The Worm” Rodman

Golden State Warriors 

it’s a duo that takes honors here “The Splash Brothers” - Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, honorable mention to Eric “Sleepy” Floyd

Houston Rockets 

Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, honorable mention to James “The Beard” Harden

Indiana Pacers 

Chuck “The Rifleman” Person

Los Angeles Clippers 

Nick “Swaggy P” Young

Los Angeles Lakers 

Jerry “Mr. Clutch” West, honorable mention to Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant and Wilt “The Big Dipper” Chamberlain

Memphis Grizzlies 

Bryant “Big Country” Reeves

Miami Heat

Dwyane “Flash” Wade, honorable mention to Chris “Birdman” Anderson

Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounpo, honorable mention to Glen "Big Dog” Robinson

Minnesota Timberwolves 

Kevin “The Big Ticket" Garnett, honorable mention to Jerome “Pooh” Richardson and Andrew “Maple Jordan” Wiggins

New Orleans Pelicans 

Anthony “The Brow” Davis

New York Knicks 

Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe

Oklahoma City Thunder 

Have to go back to Sonics days. Marvin “The Human Eraser” Webster, honorable mention to Gary “The Glove” Payton, Shawn “The Reign Man” Kemp, and “Downtown” Freddie Brown

Orlando Magic

Anfernee ”Penny” Hardaway, honorable mention to Dwight “Superman” Howard

Philadelphia 76ers 

Without question the franchise with the best nicknames ever: Julius "Dr. J” Erving, honorable mention to Allen “The Answer” Iverson, Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins, Andrew “The Boston Strangler” Toney, “Jellybean” Joe Bryant, Billy “The Kangaroo Kid” Cunningham, and Lloyd “World B” Free.

Phoenix Suns

Shawn “The Matrix” Marion, honorable mention to “Thunder" Dan Majerle

Portland Trailblazers 

Clyde “The Glide” Drexler

Sacramento Kings 

Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, honorable mention to DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins

San Antonio Spurs 

George “Iceman” Gervin, honorable mention to David “The Admiral” Robinson, Tim “The Big Fundamental” Duncan, Artis “The A-Train” Gilmore, and Matt “The Red Rocket” Bonner

Toronto Raptors 

Vince "Air Canada” Carter

Utah Jazz

Karl "The Mailman” Malone, honorable mention to  “Pistol" Pete Maravich, Darrell “Dr. Dunkenstein" Griffith, Andrei “AK-47” Kirilenko, Rudy “The Stifle Tower” Gobert, and Donovan “Spida" Mitchell

Washington Wizards 

Gil "Agent Zero” Arenas, honorable mention to Elvin “The Big E” Hayes, and Gus “Honeycomb" Johnson