NBA Superstars Have Nicknames In China (Full List)

LeBron James — “The Little Emperor”

This one is quite entertaining because if there is one thing that LeBron James is not — it’s little. As Kapur puts it, it’s a play on the English “King James” that is also a slang term for a “spoiled only child” under China’s “One Child Policy.”

This nickname was used by China a lot when James was young, which is where the “little” comes into play. However, the nickname is now used mostly by LeBron haters.

Giannis Antetokounmpo — “Letters Bro”

This one isn’t too hard to figure out. Giannis has 19 letters combined in his first name and last name. It’s hard enough for us Americans to say it which is why we provided him with our own nickname, “The Greek Freak,” so it’s not surprising that China has their nickname for him as well.

Although China’s nickname for Giannis is funny, to say the least, I would still say “The Greek Freak” is more creative. Kapur’s take on the nickname says “Because his last name has…so…many…letters!”