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Video: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, More Debate Best Nickname on Team USA Roster

Timothy Rapp

Members of the Team USA basketball team were asked on Thursday who had the best nickname on the squad as the team prepares for its Paris Olympics matchup against Nikola Jokić's Serbia on Sunday.

LeBron James' nickname, "King James," was by far the most popular selection, while Stephen Curry's "Chef Curry" and Kevin Durant's "Slim Reaper" were also mentioned multiple times.

Joel Embiid nominated the nickname he gave himself, "The Process," though he also earned Curry's vote.

Most players didn't consider shortened versions of a player's actual name, like Devin Booker's "Book," to be a legitimate nickname for selection. And James quickly—and humorously—shut down Anthony Davis' nomination for his own nickname, "The Brow."

The highlight, however, was "Bamonte."

Jrue Holiday told the story that at the last Olympics, JaVale McGee asked Bam Adebayo what his real name was.

"He was like, 'It's probably Bamonte or something,'" Holiday recounted.

It is, in fact, Edrice.

Team USA appears to have solid chemistry heading into an Olympics where they will be heavily favored to win a fifth straight gold medal and 17th gold overall. They weren't exactly dominant in their warm-up games leading into the Paris Olympics, but the star power and depth the United States boasts isn't matched by any other country.

There have been questions about the starting lineup and rotation, like whether Embiid should start over AD or who the fifth starter will be behind James, Curry, Durant and the big man chosen (which seemingly will be Embiid).

Those are good problems for Steve Kerr to have, of course. This team is loaded, and anything less than a gold medal will be a major disappointment.

   

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