1. Celtics - I have no problem with this name since it relates to the Irish heritage of boston, it makes sense
2. Mavericks - also no problem, it refers to an unbranded range animal, hence Dallas, Texas. Ranch town
3. Nets - pretty weak name, they could have done just as bad going with the new jersey backboards.
4. Rockets - The Houston Rockets were founded in 1967 in San Diego, CA. The San Diego franchise nickname became the "Rockets" due to the local development (by General Dynamics) of the famed Atlas missile/booster rocket program. In 1971, Texas Sports Investments bought the franchise for $5.6 million, and moved the team to Houston, TX. The franchise kept the existing Rockets name. No relevance to Houston.
5. Grizzlies - they started in Vancouver so i guess they have a lot of grizzlies there?
6. Knicks or Knickerbockers - most people think it is referring to underwear, and if this is true it would be retarded, but what it actually refers to were original colonial settlers in NY during its origin; therefor, i'm fine with it
7. 76ers - actually my favorite, It was made out of respect and refers to the men who signed the declaration of independence in 1776.
8. Pelicans - the state bird, and while most people think its a wimp the brown pelican is actually ferocious and knows no fear.
9. Raptors - maybe they found a raptor fossil? dont like it, but actually it was voted on.
10. Spurs - the spur from a cowboys boot, like the mavericks, it makes sense.
11. Bulls - the owner chose the name because it was an animal of power and strength. Once again an intimidating animal that has no relevance to the city.
12. nuggets - there was once a very rich mining supply in denver so im fine with it.
13. cavaliers - basically an english knight or a horsemen, idk how english ohio is.
14. timberwolves - got their name from the abundance of grey wolves in Minnesota. (funt fact: did u know when the timberwolves went bankrupt they were THIS close to moving the team no New Orleans?)
15. Pistons - another great name with Detroit being the "motor city". I like it
16. trailblazers - with portland known for having an abundance of forests and trails, especially the orgeon trail, i dont have a problem with it
17. Pacers - another good name, Indy 500, pace cars, u get it.
18. Thunder - It thunders everywhere basically so whatever.
19. Bucks - In a name the team contest R.D. Trebilcox, was one of 45 persons who suggested the name "Bucks." His reasoning: "Bucks are spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile." Mr. Trebilcox won a new car for his efforts in picking the name.
20. Jazz - dont get me started
21. Hawks -The franchise was formed in 1946 and known as the Buffalo Bisons. After only 13 games in its inaugural season, owner Ben Kerner moved the team to Moline, Illinois. (At that time, the area was known as the "Tri-Cities" (Moline, Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa.), though today it is called the Quad Cities). Kerner renamed the team the Tri-Cities Blackhawks; the Blackhawks were named after the Black Hawk War that was mostly fought in Illinois.
In 1951, the franchise relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and shortened their nickname to simply "Hawks"
so basically it represented a war in another state and decided to put a hawk, an animal, on the jersey? dumb
22. Warriors - no relevance, simply chosen by the owners because it sounds cool i guess... not really
23. Bobcats - along with Charlotte Flight and Charlotte Dragons were the top three choices as voted by fans. The Charlotte Regional Sports Commission aided with the "Help Name The Team" effort that drew over 1,250 suggestions. The bobcat, an expert at survival according to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, is athletic, fierce and an indigenous predator to the Carolinas.
24. Clippers - After the team moved to San Diego, from Buffalo, they named themselves the Clippers after the large boating industry in their new city, as in, Clipper Ships.
25. Heat - it was voted on, i guess its hot in miami. they should have went with the miami sweat.
26. Lakers - we know they moved, still, they should have changed the name. dumb
27. Magic - The team got their name from a contest held by the Orlando Sentinel. Fans submitted suggestions and The Magic was chosen as it's winner. Dumb
28. Suns - Phoenix is known as "the valley of the sun" ; also, in mythology, the Phoenix is the bird who rises from its ashes after flying too close to the sun
29. Wizards - In 1995, owner Abe Pollin announced he was changing the team's name because Bullets had acquired violent overtones that had made him increasingly uncomfortable over the years, particularly given the high homicide and crime rate in the early 1990s in Washington, D.C. The final straw was the assassination of his longtime friend, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. A contest was held to choose a new name and the choices were narrowed to the Dragons, Express, Stallions, Sea Dogs, or Wizards. On May 15, 1997, the Bullets officially became the Washington Wizards.
30. Kings - the Franchise's nickname had always been The Royals, but when the franchise moved from Cincinnati to Kansas City in 1972, they were renamed the Kings because Kansas City already had the Royals baseball team. The basketball team agreed to change its nickname, even though it had used the name for 25 years before the baseball team was established.
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Originally Posted by HornetGuru
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