Nickname Wars: Robbie Picks a Winner
Robbie Avila, the goggle-wearing 6-foot-10 center who went viral as "College Jokic," recently gave the internet’s nickname buffet a grade. The top pick? "Cream Abdul-Jabbar." He called it the most creative one he has heard and said, "It’s hilarious, I love it."
Why the names stick
Avila’s retro glasses and old-school feel on the court make some of these nicknames land harder than others. Fans and social accounts have been handing out labels all season, and a few have really stuck.
- Cream Abdul-Jabbar - Avila’s favorite for creativity and humor.
- College Jokic - A respectful comparison to the three-time NBA MVP. Avila said he likes the comparison but admits it is not the most original.
- Larry Nerd - A callback to Larry Bird and a nickname from Avila’s Indiana State days. Avila transferred after two seasons following coach Josh Schertz.
- Steph Blurry - A nod to the retro specs vibe.
- Milk Chamberlain - Quietly making the rounds again.
- LeBron Frames - A newer label Avila says he spotted on Twitter days ago.
On the court and in the bracket
Avila has been more than a meme. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his senior season, helping the Saint Louis Billikens to a 28-5 record. Now the Billikens are headed into the NCAA Tournament.
No. 9 Saint Louis will face No. 8 Georgia on Thursday at about 9:45 p.m. ET in Buffalo, New York. The winner will move on to play either No. 1 Michigan or No. 16 Howard on Saturday.
Bottom line
Avila seems to be enjoying the attention more than he’s stressing about it. He laughed at the nicknames, praised the creativity, and stayed focused on the upcoming tournament matchup. Expect more highlights and more nicknames as March plays out.
