Daily Thunder.com What’s in a middle name?

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Besides learning last night that the Spurs are probably a horrible, terrifying matchup for the Thunder, we learned that Eric Maynor’s middle name is Demarqua. Maybe you knew that already, but it certainly caught me off guard. I don’t know why, but middle names are always kind of interesting to me. Especially when you have as normal a name as “Eric Maynor” but the middle of that is something like Demarqua.

So naturally, I spent the afternoon looking up every player’s middle name.

Royal Terence Ivey — I think Ivey should start going by Royal T. Ivey. That sounds awesome.

Nicholas John Collison — Kinda disappointed Nick’s middle name isn’t “Plusminus.”

Ryan Rupert Reid — We learned this in Nick Collison’s nicknames piece for GQ. As Nick said, Rupert is a tremendous middle name.

Kevin Wayne Durant — Since his middle name is Wayne, I think we should start calling KD “The Duke.” Or maybe “Bruce.” Or “Batman.” Or “Gacy,” since KD is certainly a cold-blooded killer. See, Nick Collison, I can play the nickname game too.

Eric Demarqua Maynor — Demaqura. Can’t get over it.

Thabo Patrick Sefolosha — Definitely didn’t see that one coming. I asked my wife what she thought about it would be and she said “Vevey.”

Russell Westbrook — He doesn’t have one. Somehow, I see this as extraordinarily fitting and I don’t know why. Honey Badger don’t need no middle name. Or something like that.

Lazar Miller Hayward — Was hoping it was going to be “Ironhead.”

James Edward Harden — Move over King James, we’ve got King Edward. Kind of wish Harden would go by his middle name. James Harden sounds cool enough, but Edward Harden is next level.

Nazr Tahiru Mohammed — Yep, sounds about right.

Cole David Aldrich — Phew, I was worried it was going to be Cole Robert Swift Aldrich. Good sign, you guys.

Kendrick Le’Dale Perkins — Honestly, I pictured Perk as a no middle name kind of guy. And definitely didn’t expect Le’Dale.

Reggie Jackson — Couldn’t find a middle name, but it would have to be “Martinez,” right? Because that was Mr. October’s middle name. Also: He was born in Italy. Didn’t know that.

Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila — I don’t know how it started, but there’s some misinformation that Ibaka’s full name is “Sergeballu LaMu Sayonga Loom Walahas Jonas Hugo Ibaka.” Which would be completeld bad a if it was, but it’s not.

Daequan Lee Cook — Other than his first name being Daequan, that’s a very standard name.

Scott William Brooks — I think Brooks should start going by William. William Brooks would definitely give him more coach cred, I think. Sounds like a smart guy.

Sam Prestigiacomo — No joke, that’s Sam Presti’s actual name. I couldn’t find his middle name, but with a last name like that, I would assume it was either Genius, Vinny or Demarqua.

Sun_Tzu76

3 Like

Sam Presti's full name is actually: Samuel Clay Prestigiacomo (at least based on public records).

Royce Young moderator

1 Like

@Sun_Tzu76 Clay? Didn't see that coming.

C-Wil

@Sun_Tzu76 I always thought Presti was like, Jewish. But with a last name like that he's got to be a cold blooded Sicilian mobster!

Crow

@C_Dub @Sun_Tzu76 When looking for information on Mr. Sam Prestigiacomo a few years ago I found that there was another Prestigiacomo who was gunned down in southern Italy within the last 5-10 years. He actually was either married into the mob related family or the boyfriend of a woman from a mob family. Drug use and drug money was somehow involved. There is also a Prestigiacomo in the Italian cabinet. A hot woman. She is an environmentalist / feminist yet still an elitist conservative (in the same party or political coalition as the granddaughter of Mussolini). Her family made industrial tubing and was accused of various environmental, labor and tax violations. She was also accused by some of whitewashing or doing too little to prosecute mob related dumping of toxic materials in the Mediterranean . I do not have information as to whether Sam is related in any near or distant way to either. But he might. There was a Prestigiacomo mobster in Chicago too. I don't know how rare the name is.

Crow

@C_Dub @Sun_Tzu76 There are cases of Jewish families converting, denying their heritage or maintaining it privately. There is a case or rumor that the President of Iran is actually of Jewish heritage. FWIW.

Crow

@C_Dub @Sun_Tzu76 It is probably a fairly common name in southern Italy. Part of the name translates as priest.

El Prez

@Sun_Tzu76 I never knew. Prestigiacomo. He should have been opposite Michael Corleone in The Godfather. That's a great name.

SammyThunderer

@Sun_Tzu76 Fer real? Awesome.

50 comments

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Emcee_Matt

Let just call him Jim Harden

Bry Bry

Does anyone now how Lazar was used in Tulsa?

From his box scores It didn't seem like he attempted many threes. Did he handle the ball often, shoot off screens, get put backs, what???? Because if we have to use him, could we at least use him in a way that maximizes his talents?

Sustainable Parameters

@BRY BRY Does he have NBA caliber talents? I like his shoes though

ThunderChick2010

You know how when your mom or grandma would get perturbed with you as a kid and call you by all three names . . . I'm trying to picture anyone yelling "Kendrick Le'Dale Perkins!" or "James Edward Harden!" You know it had to have happened a few times.

Lost Ones

I would say perkins needs to energize things in the lockerroom considering he is the vet with championship exp, but he sucks right now himself so i guess our inexperienced guys have to lead themselves.

RRRWHOAAAA

scott brooks always reminded me of cyclopse from x-men, mostly because of the first name, but also because he gets good results but no one really likes him

courtsense

I want a Head Coach whose middle name is "Morpheus."

Rockets are in the process of buying out Derek Fisher. We need to sign him immediately. Deuces Ryan Reid. You can keep all those masks too

f5alcon

@DennisBerry if anybody it will be lazar and not reid, we traded mullens and bought out nate rob to get reid a roster spot.

@f5alcon Cut them both and give me Renaldo Balkman too.

My sister, a complete basketball novice, once misread Nick's name as Nick Collision. This 'nick'name has stuck for us. :)

thank you mavs for beating the spurs

Old Man Game

@f5alcon Now beat Portland tomorrow night OKC!

Remify

come on mavs lol, eewww

@Remify I think you already know what happens in Soviet Texas...

shiki

rockets waived Terrence Williams,at least he is better than Lazar

@shiki I like Renaldo Balkman too. Andres Nocioni has also been waived, but I think he may be just past his usefulness.,

@DennisBerry @shiki I like Balkman. There is probably some D-leaguer worth looking at, but they probably won't.

@shiki he can dunk

Legendary_Dork

watching the mavs vs spurs game and i just saw dannny green air ball some 3's WTF> why couldnt he do that LAST NIGHT lol

nomad

@NathanHurley Also, looking at the box score and thinking about how effective Blair was against the Thunder last night compared to his numbers against the Mavs. That is really disappointing since we are supposedly built to stop inside scoring.

@nomad @NathanHurley Its because of Serge always having to come over and try and blocks shots to bail out the bad perimeter defense. He was constantly out of position and Blair was there for easy putbacks.

76ers is a jumpshot team without good shooters

MarshallBD

WATCH OUT! HERE COMES BILLY BROOKS AND THE THUNDER!

now this is the Royce I know and love. Best article in a while.

TheresABabyFaceUnderMyBeard

Patty Mills to San Antonio? Can you say fastest point guard roster ever? Their bench was crapping on us enough already without the Aussie Lightning Bolt

Royce White's a frikkin Monster. For a guy with sever anxiety syndrome he still goes at people like he's fearless

severe*

@JimboSlice I think sever anxiety syndrome sounds more interesting.

Philly needs to hope they draw can draw the Bulls in the second round. They'll get creamed vs. Miami.

if the bulls lose im happy.

76ers have a good beginning,hope they can have a good ending

ElMexiThunder

Sam Presti is itallian?

Also watching WGN's broadcast of the Sixers @ Bulls game, i just wished that FoxSports Oklahoma could actually show the pledge, or/and Rumble with the drum start in the middle of the court.

purplelvstuff

I'm calling it. Royce will be pushing a "Royal T" Leaf and Tree shirt IMMEDIATELY. It will be power blue with a crown and "Royal T" in gold lettering.