The Whiteboard: Kevin is the best first name in NBA history

By Ti Windisch | Aug 7, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 25: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during the game on December 25, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

There have been plenty of NBA players with plenty of names. It just so happens a lot of the good ones have been named Kevin.

Alright folks, buckle in for some serious NBA analysis here: Kevin is the best first name in NBA history. It’s really not even close. This isn’t exactly a novel concept, as the trendsetting Shea Serrano has written about it for The Ringer before, but I want to go deeper into Team Kevin.

There are currently two Kevins in the NBA who are reigning All-Stars: Kevin Durant and Kevin Love. KD is one of the better players to ever suit up in the NBA, and Love was an absolute monster in Minnesota and really in Cleveland as well. That’s a great foundation for the team of Kevins.

Kevin Garnett is next, and I’m not sure there’s a better big man to pair next to Kevin Love than Kevin Garnett. Putting Love in between KD and KG really masks any of his defensive issues, and also results in a team that is going to out-rebound just about anybody.

We’re not done with big guys named Kevin though, as Kevin McHale is here as well. McHale forcing Love to the three is sort of ugly, but we can’t be perfect on a team with only one first name.

The point guard situation here is obvious, as we’ve got Kevin Johnson to set up all the other Kevins. Also, is it weird that three of the five Kevins have their initials as a nickname?

Finally, Team Kevin also has one hell of a bench. Kevin Willis and Kevin Duckworth, two more big dudes, are also Kevins who made it to at least one All-Star game. The squad is short on guards, but lord can Team Kevin body up just about anybody else. The lesson here? If you want a child to become an All-Star big man, name him Kevin.

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