The 5 Longest Names In NBA History: The Surprising Player Who Holds The All-Time Character Record

The question of who owns the longest name in NBA history is more complex than a simple glance at a jersey nameplate. While many fans immediately think of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the true record holder for the longest *full name* by character count is a modern superstar whose full legal name is rarely used in broadcasts. As of December 15, 2025, the all-time record is held by a dynamic guard whose name is a stunning 35 characters long, including spaces and the hyphen.

This deep dive will settle the debate by breaking down the record into two categories—the longest full name and the longest last name—based on official league and biographical records. The record for the longest name in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is not only a fun piece of trivia but also a testament to the league’s growing international and hyphenated heritage.

The All-Time Record Holder: Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander

The undisputed champion for the longest full name in NBA history is Oklahoma City Thunder star, Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander. His full name, including his first, two middle names, and hyphenated last name, totals an impressive 35 characters. This count edges out every other player in the league’s history when all names are officially considered.

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Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander: Biographical Profile

• Full Name: Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander
• Common Abbreviation: SGA
• Date of Birth: July 12, 1998
• Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Nationality: Canadian
• Height/Weight: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) / 195 lb (88 kg)
• Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
• NBA Career: Drafted 11th overall in the 2018 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets (traded to the Los Angeles Clippers); currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Notable Achievements: Multiple NBA All-Star selections, All-NBA First Team honors.
• Character Count (Full Name): 35 characters (S-h-a-i-v-o-n-t-e A-i-c-i-a-n G-i-l-g-e-o-u-s-A-l-e-x-a-n-d-e-r)

The sheer length of his name, particularly his 18-character last name, is why he is often referred to by his initials, SGA. This abbreviation is a necessity for scoreboards, broadcasters, and even jersey customization, yet it ironically masks the incredible length of his full moniker. The debate over the longest name often overlooks the crucial middle names, which in SGA’s case, secure the all-time record.

The Longest Last Name: A Modern Tie (18 Characters)

While the full name record belongs to Gilgeous-Alexander, the record for the longest *last name* in NBA history is currently a tie between two players, both clocking in at 18 characters (including the hyphen).

1. Gilgeous-Alexander (18 Characters)

The last name of Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander, *Gilgeous-Alexander*, stands at 18 characters. This hyphenated surname is a key component of his record-breaking full name. The hyphenated name trend has become more common in the league, a reflection of diverse cultural backgrounds and family naming conventions. His cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, also has a notably long name, further illustrating this family's unique naming tradition.

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2. Konan-Niederhäuser (18 Characters)

Tying the record for the longest last name is Los Angeles Clippers forward Yanic Konan-Niederhäuser. While his full name, *Yanic Konan-Niederhäuser*, is shorter than SGA’s due to fewer middle names, his last name, *Konan-Niederhäuser*, also consists of 18 characters (depending on the official league spelling and whether the German umlaut is counted as a separate character or transliterated). This recent addition to the league solidifies the 18-character mark as the modern standard for the longest surname.

Notable Contenders and Players with Exceptionally Long Names

The history of the NBA is filled with players whose names challenge scoreboards and announcers alike. While they may not hold the character-count record, these players are crucial to the topical authority on the subject of long NBA names. The complexity of names like these often forces the use of shorter nicknames or initials, such as the famous "3D" for Dennis Scott.

The Top 5 Longest Full Names (Modern Era)

Excluding the historical and often unverified records, the modern contenders for the longest full name (First Middle Last, including spaces/hyphens) are:

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1. Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander (35 characters)
2. Kentavious Tannell Caldwell-Pope (33 characters)
3. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (29 characters - Luc Mbah a Moute)
4. Michael Carter-Williams (23 characters - Michael Carter-Williams)
5. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (23 characters - Nickeil Alexander-Walker)

Other Entities with Long or Unique Monikers

Length is not the only measure of a unique name. Many players have incredibly long last names or names that are famous for their complexity or cultural significance. These players and their names are often the subject of NBA trivia:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak’s 13-character last name is one of the longest non-hyphenated surnames in the league.
• Dorian Finney-Smith: Another prominent player with a hyphenated last name, representing the growing trend.
• Vlatko Čančar: The Slovenian forward’s name includes a special character (Č), which can complicate character counting depending on the system used.
• Martynas Andriuskevicius: A historical figure often cited for having a very long name, though his full name *Martynas Andriuskevicius* (27 characters) is shorter than SGA's.
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: Another example of a modern player with a long, hyphenated last name.
• Walter Herrmann: While not exceptionally long, his name is often mispronounced, highlighting the challenge of diverse names.

The Hyphenated Name Phenomenon in the NBA

A significant factor in the increasing length of NBA names is the rise of the hyphenated name. Players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Carter-Williams often use their double-barreled surnames to honor both parents or a unique family lineage. This trend has created a new standard for name length in the league.

The hyphenated name is also a feature of some of the league’s most legendary figures, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, though his name’s length is due more to its structure than to a traditional double-barreled surname. This naming convention adds complexity to the player roster and scoreboards, but it ultimately enriches the league’s cultural tapestry.

Name Changes and Length

In some cases, a player's name length changes dramatically due to a legal name change. The most famous example is Ron Artest, who legally changed his name to Metta World Peace. His full name, *Metta World Peace*, is 15 characters long (including spaces), a name that is certainly unique but does not challenge the all-time character count record.

The quest for the longest name in NBA history reveals a fascinating intersection of sports, identity, and trivia. While the longest last name is a tie, the definitive record for the longest full name belongs to Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander, a modern star whose 35-character name is a subtle, yet impressive, piece of NBA history.