Random Phenomenon: “Waves” of Player Names
There’s a random little phenomenon I’ve noticed with NBA player names in recent years: some relatively uncommon player last names come in bundles either in successive years or in the same year. I went down the rabbit hole of looking at all player names on Basketball Reference and noted down the ones that jumped out at me.
Bey: Saddiq and Tyler both in 2020 draft; no other Bey in NBA history
Black: Anthony and Leaky both from 2023 draft; last Black was Tarik in 2014
Bridges: both Mikal and Miles in 2018; last Bridges before them was Bill in 1962
Diallo: Cheick in 2016 and Hamidou in 2018; no other Diallo in NBA history
George: Keyonte in 2023 and Kyshawn in 2024; last one was Paul in 2010
Gueye: Mouhamadou and Mohamed both in 2024; no other Gueye in NBA history
Hayes: Jaxson in 2019 and Killian in 2020; last one was Chuck in 2005
Mann: Terrence in 2019 and Tre in 2021; no other Mann in NBA history
McLaughlin: Jordan in 2019 and JaQuori in 2021; no other McLaughlin in NBA history
Murray: both Jamal and Dejonte in 2016; last one before them was Ronald in 2002
Nembhard: RJ in 2021 and Andrew in 2022; completely unrelated families; last one before RJ was RJ’s dad, Ruben, in 1997
Payne: Adreian in 2014 and Cameron in 2015; last one was Kenny in 1989
Porter Jr (my favorite one): Michael in 2018 and Kevin in 2019; last one before them was Otto in 2013; the three juniors are somehow completely unrelated
Sharpe: DayRon in 2022 and Shaedon in 2023; last one was Walter in 2009, no other Sharpe in NBA history
Sheppard: Ben in 2023 and Reed in 2024; last one was Jeff in 1998 (Reed’s dad)
Tyson: Hunter in 2023 and Jaylon in 2024; no other Tyson in NBA history