Introduction
There are few things in life attributed as much attention and passion as pets and sports, and by specific example here, dogs and basketball. While the two don’t physically go hand in hand as well as baseball, where there’s a reasonably-sized object to chase and fetch, there’s little doubt they share more than in common than we first may think. After all, they are both seemingly timeless, affect our daily moods, and provide us a lifetime of joy and pain should we choose to commit for that long. And for those very reasons, we like to attach as much meaning as possible to them. For some, names are purely arbitrary, but for others, they represent something much greater, a deeper reminder of why we hold both so dearly. While players and dogs eventually both pass, their names and the memories tied to them can last forever.
Famous Basketball Player Dog Names in Pop Culture
Ok, laugh if you want to, but there’s something to be said about a Golden Retriever that helped to gross nearly $28 million in his first feature film. And the best part? He actually played basketball. That’s right. No CGI. This was the 90s, when CGI was still in its infancy. And he played with a regulation hoop.
Realistically, the story of Buddy is pretty remarkable and a true testament to the relationship between human and dog. Buddy was found as a stray by Kevin di Cicco while up at his grandfather’s cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1989. Because Buddy was in such bad shape, di Cicco’s first intention was to nurse him back to help. After bringing him back to San Diego, he discovered that the dog had a lot of interest in different types of balls and eventually, sports, so he began teaching Buddy how to play various aspects of baseball, football, soccer, hockey and basketball.
His abilities were enough to begin garnering notice. Buddy was first seen on “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” Then he went on to receive even more attention after appearing on David Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks” and the NBA’s “Inside Stuff” show. But that was just the beginning. Di Cicco began contacting every team in the NBA, attempting to get picked up as half time show entertainment. It worked. In the first year, Buddy made three appearances. The following year, he did nearly 20.
He was picked up by local television, CNN, and was even asked by the governor of Illinois to attend the state fair acting as its mascot. It was enough to inspire di Cicco to begin working on a screenplay with the same name, a story of a losing NBA franchise that starts winning after discovering a basketball-playing dog.
By 1996, Buddy had already made an appearance in 1995’s Fluke and appeared in an episode of Full House as Comet, the Tanner family’s beloved Golden Retriever. In 1997, Walt Disney Pictures released the beginning of a franchise, Air Bud, and it grossed $4 million in its opening weekend alone.
Unfortunately, Air Bud would be Buddy’s final role, as less than a year later, he passed away in his home due to complications with his cancer. Air Bud: Golden Receiver was made and released in his memory a year later and several spinoffs were featured in the early 2000s as well. Before passing, Buddy had a litter of nine pups, some of whom the spinoffs were based on.
While Buddy may have had limited acting roles in the grand scheme, he had not only continued to popularize the Golden Retriever as the great American family dog, but proved their significant intelligence, had a large influence on family movies produced after his time, and inspired millions of dog lovers everywhere, rewriting the canine form of the American Dream.
Famous Basketball Player Dog Name Considerations
Many people will choose a name for their dog purely based on players they like, and that’s perfectly okay. But for the rest of us, who want our furry friends to carry their namesakes like trophies full of wins and losses and true identity, this is simply not enough. Generic basketball names like Dribbler for a dog that drools too much or carries half the water dish in its mouth after it walks away is apt enough, but for those truly diehard fans who have followed players and teams for years, even decades, well, they need more, which is why we’re here.
For anyone with a wide knowledge of the numerous different attributes a dog can have, there’s undoubtedly a lot to consider, even if they’re only a fan of one team or a select group of players. One could easily tie a name to looks alone based on their face, expressions or teeth, let alone their coat color, pattern or breed. Then, of course, there’s also personality, which is another full list of possibilities entirely. But whatever you choose to go with, rest assured your companion will be outfitted with a name that’s not only appropriate and reminds you of the sport you love, but one that is likely to be far more fun and cool than your own — sorry to break it to you.
Male Famous Basketball Player Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
0 |
Doc
After Doctor Julius Erving
|
|
0 |
Iverson
After Allen "The Answer" Iverson
|
|
0 |
Hakeem
After Hakeem Olajuwon
|
|
0 |
Legend
After Larry "Legend" Bird
|
|
0 |
Admiral
After David "The Admiral" Robinson
|
|
0 |
Drexler
After Clyde "The Glide" Drexler
|
|
0 |
Carter
After Vince "Air Canada" Carter
|
|
0 |
Diesel
After Shaquille O'Neal, "Diesel"
|
|
0 |
Chief
After Robert "The Chief" Parish
|
|
0 |
Worm
After Dennis "The Worm" Rodman
|
|
0 |
Crash
After Gerald "Crash" Wallace
|
|
0 |
Bryant
After Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant
|
|
0 |
Biggo
After Oscar "Big O" Robertson
|
|
0 |
Muttumbo
A play on the name Dikembe Mutombo
|
|
0 |
Dogkembe
A play on the name Dikembe Mutombo
|
|
0 |
Wade
After Dwayne Wade
|
|
0 |
Robinson
After David "The Admiral" Robinson
|
|
0 |
Ewing
After Patrick Ewing
|
|
0 |
Isiah
After Isiah Thomas
|
|
0 |
Pierce
After Paul "The Truth" Pierce
|
|
0 |
Harden
After James Harden
|
|
0 |
Puggsy
A play on Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues
|
|
0 |
Durant
After Kevin Durant
|
|
-1 |
King
After LeBron James, "The King"
|
|
-1 |
Spud
After Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb
|
|
-1 |
Webb
After Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb
|
|
-1 |
Alcindor
Lew Alcindor, before his name change to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
|
|
-1 |
Kareem
After Lew Alcindor, as in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
|
|
-1 |
Russell
After Bill Russell
|
|
-1 |
Duncan
After Tim Duncan
|
Female Famous Basketball Player Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
1 |
Mamba
After Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant
|
|
0 |
Jordan
After the greatest, Michael Jordan
|
|
0 |
Magic
After Earvin "Magic" Johnson
|
|
0 |
Lew
After Lew Alcindor, before his name change to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
|
|
0 |
Bird
After Larry "Legend" Bird
|
|
0 |
Kemp
After Shawn "The Reignman" Kemp
|
|
0 |
Reign
After Shawn "The Reignman" Kemp
|
|
0 |
Malone
After Moses or Karl, take your pick
|
|
0 |
Barkley
After "Sir Charles" Barkley
|
|
0 |
Pearl
After Earl "The Pearl" Monroe
|
|
0 |
Monroe
After Earl "The Pearl" Monroe
|
|
0 |
Thunder
After Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins
|
|
0 |
Payton
After Gary "The Glove" Payton
|
|
0 |
Cousy
After Bob Cousy, "The Houdini of Hardwood"
|
|
0 |
Dipper
After Wilt Chamberlain, "The Big Dipper"
|
|
0 |
Parish
After Robert "The Chief" Parish
|
|
0 |
Pistol
After "Pistol" Pete Maravich
|
|
0 |
Logo
After Jerry "The Logo" West
|
|
0 |
Penny
After Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
|
|
0 |
Scottie
After Scottie Pippen
|
|
0 |
Puppen
A play on Scottie Pippen
|
|
0 |
Kidd
After Jason Kidd
|
|
0 |
Schayes
After Dolph Schayes
|
|
0 |
Reggie
After Reggie Miller
|
|
0 |
Miller
After Reggie Miller
|
|
0 |
Dominique
After Dominique Wilkins
|
|
0 |
Kawhi
After Kawhi Leonard
|
|
0 |
Barker
A play on Jabari Parker
|
|
0 |
Dunn
After Kris Dunn
|
|
0 |
Klay
After Klay Thompson
|