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200+ Basketball Dog Names: Fun Ideas for Sporty Dogs 

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Basketball Dog Names

If you’re a huge basketball fan, it makes sense that you’ll want to name your dog after your favorite team. There are tons of great names out there for your pup, and we’ve highlighted more than 200 of them for you below. Not only that, but we’ve highlighted a few tips you should follow when naming your pup. That way, you don’t pick a name you regret and struggle to change it in the future!

Click to skip to your favorite team:

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How to Name Your Dog

When you’re naming your dog, there are a few different things you need to keep in mind, and when you’re naming your dog after your favorite basketball team, there is even more for you to consider!

First, start by picking a short name since this is easier to teach your dog. Next, if you’re naming your dog after a player, ensure no one commonly near your dog has the same name or a similar-sounding name, as this can confuse your pup.

Next, do not name your pup something you won’t want to say around other people. If you’re naming your dog after your favorite basketball team, this likely isn’t something you need to worry about, but you should consider it regardless.

Finally, if you are naming your pup after a favorite player, keep in mind that your team might trade them or not re-sign them in the future. This means you might name them after your favorite player now, they might go to a rival in the future.

With that in mind, check out over 200 basketball-inspired names for each NBA team here.

Red Pomeranian Spitz dog plays with a basketball on a green lawn
Image Credit: fotosparrow, Shutterstock

Boston Celtics Inspired Names

  • Celtic
  • Malcolm
  • Brogdon
  • Griffin
  • Hauser
  • Tatum
  • Lucky

Brooklyn Nets Inspired Names

  • Barclay
  • Duncan
  • Sly
  • Knight
  • Dragon
  • Mikal
  • Simmons
  • Duke
  • Clowney

New York Knicks Inspired Names

  • Brunson
  • Randle
  • Barrett
  • Immanuel
  • Mitchell
  • Miles
  • Madison
adorable maltese dog holding a basketball on a couch with colorful pillows on the background
Image Credit: Kimrawicz, Shutterstock

Philadelphia 76ers Inspired Names

  • Fargo
  • Franklin
  • Hip
  • Harden
  • Embiid
  • Tobias
  • McClung
  • Melton
  • Bamba

Toronto Raptors Inspired Names

  • Lowry
  • Gasol
  • Barnes
  • Ibaka
  • Gary
  • Pascal
  • Raptor

Chicago Bulls Inspired Names

  • Bulls
  • Benny
  • Zach
  • Rose
  • Carter
  • Taylor
Adorable Terrier Mix Puppy Playing with Orange Basketball Toy
Image Credit: Anna Hoychuk, Shutterstock

Cleveland Cavalier Inspired Names

  • Cavalier
  • Mitchell
  • Garland
  • Mobley
  • Isaac
  • Rubio
  • Bates
  • Wade
  • Whammer
  • Moondog
  • Rocket

Detroit Piston Inspired Names

  • Caesar
  • Hooper
  • Cade
  • Wiseman
  • Hayes
  • Stewart
  • Morris

Indiana Pacers Inspired Names

  • Haiburton
  • Benedict
  • McConnel
  • George
  • Gainbridge
  • Boomer
Puppy on Fluffy Blanket with Orange Basketball Toy
Image Credit: Anna Hoychuk, Shutterstock

Milwaukee Bucks Inspired Names

  • Bango
  • Buck
  • Giannis
  • Antetokounmpo
  • Bobby
  • Grayson
  • Brook

Atlanta Hawks Inspired Names

  • Hawk
  • Trae
  • Young
  • Murray
  • Sky
  • Harry

Charlotte Hornets Inspired Names

  • Hugo
  • Spectrum
  • LaMelo
  • Ball
  • Miller
  • Rozier
  • Martin
golden retriever dog in a basketball uniform with a ball sits at a basketball hoop
Image Credit: Kashaeva Irina, Shutterstock

Miami Heat Inspired Names

  • Heat
  • Butler
  • Herro
  • Love
  • Kevin
  • Jimmy
  • Burnie
  • Kaseya

Orlando Magic Inspired Names

  • Magic
  • Amway
  • Stuff
  • Paolo
  • Fultz
  • Anthony
  • Wagner
  • Suggs

Washington Wizards Inspired Names

  • Wizard
  • G-Wiz
  • Man
  • Kuzma
  • Poole
  • Davis
  • Wright
  • Gafford
black dog biting the basketball toy
Image Credit: napoleonasss, Shutterstock

Denver Nuggets Inspired Names

  • Rocky
  • Nugget
  • Ball
  • Jokic
  • Nikola
  • Gordon
  • Jackson

Minnesota Timberwolves Inspired Names

  • Crunch
  • Target
  • Timberwolf
  • Karl
  • Gobert
  • Edwards
  • Moore

Oklahoma City Thunder Inspired Names

  • Rumble
  • Thunder
  • Bison
  • Paycom
  • Alexander
  • Westbrook
  • Russell
  • Jeremiah
smart dog scoring with basketball on a dog show
Image Credit: berni0004, Shutterstock

Portland Trail Blazers Inspired Names

  • Blaze
  • Trail
  • Moda
  • Lillard
  • Damian
  • Henderson
  • Simons
  • Sharpe

Utah Jazz Inspired Names

  • Lauri
  • Clarkson
  • Kessler
  • Sexton
  • Ochai
  • Jazz
  • Bear
  • Delta

Golden State Warriors Inspired Names

  • Warrior
  • Chase
  • Stephen
  • Klay
  • Thompson
  • Draymond
  • Wiggins
  • Paul
small golden poodle dog and his toy rubber basketball ball
Image Credit: Linas T, Shutterstock

LA Clippers Inspired Names

  • Paul
  • George
  • Kawhi
  • Leonard
  • Russell
  • Westbrook
  • Chuck
  • Condor

Los Angeles Lakers Inspired Names

  • Harry
  • Rocky
  • LeBron
  • Davis
  • D’Angelo
  • Reaves
  • Vanderbilt

Phoenix Suns Inspired Names

  • Durant
  • Booker
  • Beal
  • Bradley
  • Footprint
  • Gorilla

Sacramento Kings Inspired Names

  • Slamson
  • Lion
  • King
  • Golden
  • Sabonis
  • Murray
  • Monk
  • Malik
short dog with a basketball outside
Image Credit: ollytheoutlier, Shutterstock

Dallas Mavericks Inspired Names

  • Luka
  • Hardaway
  • Dwight
  • Champ
  • MavsMan
  • Dallas

Houston Rockets Inspired Names

  • Clutch
  • Green
  • Jabaria
  • Porter
  • Whitmore
  • VanVleet
  • Brooks

Memphis Grizzlies Inspired Names

  • Morant
  • Clarke
  • Gasol
  • Conley
  • Konchar
  • Grizz
jack russell terrier dog with a basketball ball on a green lawn
Image Credit: Reshetnikov_art, Shutterstock

New Orleans Pelicans Inspired Names

  • Pierre
  • Zion
  • Williamson
  • Ingram
  • McCollum
  • Jonas
  • Jose
  • Murphy

San Antonia Spurs Inspired Names

  • Sochan
  • Johnson
  • Jones
  • Victor
  • Zach
  • Collins
  • Coyote
  • Tottenham

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Final Thoughts

Now that you have quite a few dog names for each NBA team out there, all that is left is for you to pick your favorite and start teaching it to your sporty dog. Once they have a great name, you can think about your favorite team every time you call them, and you can show off your fandom in a great new way for years to come! Get ready to geek out on your favorite team and your favorite dog!


Featured Image Credit: thanai asawaroengchai, Shutterstock

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