Emily Walker
Going basketball style is something that’s trending in the pet naming community, and I know my basketball articles may be helping with this one as well.
There are basketball inspired cat names that you’re going to like because basketball is a sport and basketball is awesome! Even if you aren’t currently into basketball, these names will surely make you want to go out and play basketball.
So, here are cat names inspired by basketball!
Male Basketball Cat Names
| Names | Notes |
| Spud | For Anthony Webb, known as Spud, a former NBA player who won a slam dunk contest while being one of the shortest players in league history at five feet seven inches |
| Edmund |
Named after the Edmund P. Joyce Center, home stadium of Notre Dame
|
| Cameron |
Cameron Indoor Stadium is the home stadium of Duke’s basketball team
|
| Shaq |
For Shaquille O’Neal, known as Shaq; played in the NBA for 19 seasons
|
| Pablo |
Pablo Prigioni played in the Spanish and Argentine leagues and in 2012 became the oldest rookie in NBA history when playing for the Knicks
|
| London |
For the London Olympics of 2012, where the United States men’s team won the gold medal
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| Jordan |
For Michael Jordan, considered one of the all-time best basketball players
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| Knick |
As in the New York Knicks, an NBA team
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| Piston |
For the NBA team the Detroit Pistons
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| Duncan |
As in Tim Duncan, who has spent his career with the San Antonio spurs, where he has made 15 All-Star appearances
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| Kareem |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the leading scorer in the NBA to date with 38,387 points
|
| Spartan |
For the Michigan State Spartans basketball team
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| Dunk |
Dunk: for the slam dunk, when a player jumps in the air and puts the ball right into the basket
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| Hoosier |
For the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team from Indiana University
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| Naismith |
For the creator of the sport
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| Bull |
After the the Chicago Bulls
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| Hoops |
Some who play the game say “let’s go shoot some hoops”
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| LeBron |
As in LeBron James, currently a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers
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| Barkley |
A former NBA player, Charles Barkley is currently an analyst on Inside the NBA
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| Pauley |
For Pauley Pavilion, the home stadium of the UCLA Bruins basketball team
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| Spur |
Inspired by the San Antonio Spurs, an NBA team
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| Barclay |
For Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets
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| Rocket |
For the NBA team the Houston Rockets
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| Hurricane |
For the University of Miami Hurricanes, a good name for a busy pup
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| Nat |
For Nat Hickey who is considered to be the oldest to have played in the NBA at 45 years 362 days
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| Gator |
For the University of Florida Gators
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| Kobe |
For Kobe Bryant, who had a 20 year career in the NBA all with the LA Lakers
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| Spalding |
A brand of basketball equipment
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| Marv |
For Marv Albert, a broadcaster who is often referred to as the “voice of basketball”
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| Net |
Inspired by the New Jersey Nets as well as what players shoot the ball through
|
Female Basketball Cat Names
| Names | Notes |
| Daly |
A coach at the college level, as well as in the NBA and of the 1992 Olympic team that won the Gold Medal
|
| Dream |
For the Atlanta Dream, a WNBA team
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| Sky |
For the WNBA team the Chicago Sky
|
| Ming |
Yao Ming, a basketball player from China who played for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association and the Houston Rockets in the NBA
|
| Nugget |
For the NBA team the Denver Nuggets
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| Lisa |
Lisa Leslie, a three-time MVP in the WNBA
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| Riley |
A popular coach in the NBA who won five championships
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| Jersey |
For the team shirts worn by the basketball players
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| Rose |
The home of the Portland Trail Blazers was formerly known as the Rose Garden; now known as Moda Center
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| Knicky |
For the New York Knicks NBA team
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| Tamika |
Tamika Catchings played for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA for 15 years and won four Olympic gold medals
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| Valerie |
Valerie Ackerman, the first president of the Women’s National Basketball Association
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| Magic |
For the NBA team the Orlando Magic
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| Jazz |
For the NBA team the Utah Jazz
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| Rio |
The United States Women’s basketball team won Olympic gold at the Olympics in Rio de Janiero
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| Pippen |
For Scotty Pippen, a former NBA player who won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls
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| Red |
For Red Auerbach, an NBA coach for 20 seasons
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| Pat |
For Pat Summit, coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team from 1974-2012, coaching her team to 8 NCAA championships
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| Metta |
For Metta World Peace, a longtime NBA player and current coach who changed his name from Ron Artest; Metta is a traditional Buddhist word for loving kindness and friendliness towards all
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| Storm |
For the Seattle Storm, a WNBA team
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| Dribble |
How a basketball player gets the ball from one end of the court to the other
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| Cynthia |
Cynthia Cooper, a guard who played at the University of Southern California, the Houston Comets and the USA Team; also a coach
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| Diana |
Diana Taurasi has played in the WNBA (Phoenix Mercury) and won four Olympic gold medals
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| Izzo |
For Tom Izzo, longtime basketball coach at Michigan State University
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| Alley |
For the offensive play called an “alley oop”
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| Senda |
Senda Berenson was known for organizing the first women’s basketball team at Smith College in 1893
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| Sue |
For Suzanne Brigit Bird, known as Sue, who has played for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA and won four Olympic gold medals
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| Becky |
The first female full-time member of an NBA coaching staff; hired as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs
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| Madison |
For Madison Square Garden, the home of the New York Knicks
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Naming your cat is an important decision and one that should be taken care of.
If you need more unique ideas, you can find on sport cat names that hopefully help you find the perfect name for your cat!
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