TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Former NBA player Steve Nash assists Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons with a dunk in the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Nadimci su oduvek bili deo sporta. Jednom kada sportista dobije nadimak, teško je promeniti ga ili mu nadenuti novi. Međutim, najveće zvezde u NBA šampionatu, najjačoj košarkaškoj ligi na svetu, dobili su prilično snažnu, neobičnu, ali i pomalo vulgarnu „konkurenciju“ koja stiže iz Kine.
NBA liga je veoma popularna u istočnoazijskoj državi na čijoj teritoriji živi oko 20 odsto svetskog stanovništa, a to dobro pokazuju i brojne aktivnosti i promocije vrhunskih košarkaša iz Asocijacije koji svake godine putuju u Kinu kako bi obradovali veliki broj svojih navijača.
Popularnost NBA košarke u toj državi ne prestaje da raste, pogotovo nakon što je liga 2004. godine u Šangaju i Pekingu organizovala dve predsezonske utakmice kao deo serije „NBA China Games“ koja se sada održava svake godine, ali pre svega zahvaljujući prvom piku sa drafta iz 2002. godine, legendarnom Jao Mingu.
Takođe, primetan je veliki porast broja američkih košarkaša u tamošnjim ligama tokom prethodnih nekoliko decenija, što je istovremeno doprinelo i razvijanju baze „okorelih“ navijača širom četvrte najveće države na planeti.
Međutim, kako većina stranih imena ne može savršeno da se prevede na mandarinski, najzastupljeniji jezik u Kini, mediji pokušavaju da ih transkribuju kao skup različitih kineskih reči, dok navijači smišljaju drugačija „rešenja“.
Uvrnuta, čudna i u najmanju ruku specifična rešenja.
Istoričar Nik Kapurobjavio je na Tviteru prilično dugačku listu najneobičnijih nadimaka NBA zvezda koja dolaze iz Kine, a koja su privukla veliku pažnju u američkim medijima. Iako se nekoliko nadimaka verovatno neće svideti njihovim „vlasnicima“, postoje i ona koja bi mogla da zažive u SAD uzimajući u obzir specifičnu kulturu iz koje dolaze.
Majkl Džordan – „Šef Bande“ (Gang Boss)
AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 27: Ex-NBA star Michael Jordan looks on during the Afternoon Foursomes of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 27, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Lebron Džejms – „Mali Imperator“ (The Little Emperor)
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Klej Tompson – „Buda“ (The Buddha)
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 01: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he made a three-point basket at the end of the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 1, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Tim Dankan – „Kameni Buda“ (The Stone Buddha)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MAY 12: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs waits for the Oklahoma City Thunder to bring the ball down court during the second half of Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 12, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
Dirk Novicki – „Nemački Tenk Pancer“ (The German Panzer Tank)
DALLAS, TX – MARCH 11: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 11, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Čarls Barkli – „Leteća Svinja“ (The Flying Pig)
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 03: NBA legend Charles Barkley speaks during half time of the NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 3, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Šekil O’Nil – „Džinovska Ajkula“ (The Giant Shark)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Shaquille O’Neal attends The 2018 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Manu Đinobili – „Demonska Oštrica“ (The Demon Blade)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MAY 27: Tony Parker #9 and Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate a play in front of Thabo Sefolosha #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 27, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Kevin Garnet – „Kralj Vukova“ (King of the Wolves)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 16: Kevin Garnett attends the 2018 NBA All-Star Game Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Stiv Neš – „Sin Vetra“ (Son of the Wind)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 13: Former NBA player Steve Nash assists Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons with a dunk in the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)