| 100% | COACHK | 6 | Nickname of Duke basketball's Mike Krzyzewski |
| 72% | COACHK | 6 | Nickname for Mike Krzyzewski of Duke basketball fame |
| 54% | COACHK | 6 | Mike Krzyzewski, to Duke basketball fans |
| 47% | THEANSWER | 9 | Nickname of basketball's Allen Iverson |
| 47% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname of basketball's Julius Erving |
| 47% | BIGO | 4 | Nickname of basketball's Oscar Robertson |
| 46% | COACHK | 6 | Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, familiarly |
| 44% | COACH | 5 | Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, for one |
| 42% | COACHK | 6 | Longtime head of Duke basketball, to fans |
| 42% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname of basketball legend Erving |
| 40% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname of Basketball Hall-of-Famer Erving |
| 40% | HONDO | 5 | Nickname of Basketball Hall of Famer John Havlicek |
| 40% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname of a 6'7" former basketball great |
| 40% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname of basketball player Julius Erving: 2 wds. |
| 39% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname of basketball Hall of Famer Erving: 2 wds. |
| 39% | DRJ | 3 | Basketball Hall of Fame nickname |
| 38% | PHISLAMAJAMA | 12 | Nickname of the early 1980s Houston Cougars of college basketball, also known as "Texas's Tallest Fraternity" (3 wds.) |
| 38% | DRJ | 3 | Hall of Fame basketball star Julius Erving's nickname: 2 wds. |
| 36% | CYCLONES | 8 | Nickname of the Iowa State University men's basketball team who defeated Houston in the 2023-'24 Big 12 Conference championship game |
| 36% | NATE | 4 | Basketball Hall of Famer Archibald whose nickname is "Tiny" |
| 35% | GAMECOCKS | 9 | Nickname of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team who defeated Louisiana State in the 2023-'24 Southeast Conference championship game |
| 35% | LONGHORNS | 9 | Nickname of the University of Texas women's basketball team who defeated Iowa State in the 2023-'24 Big 12 Conference championship game |
| 35% | BIBI | 4 | Nickname of Israel's Netanyahu |
| 35% | MAV | 3 | Nickname for any member of a Dallas professional basketball team |
| 35% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname for Basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving (2 wds.) |
| 35% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname for basketball Hall of Famer Erving: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 35% | EARL | 4 | ___ Monroe, Basketball Hall of Famer nicknamed "The Pearl" |
| 35% | THELIP | 6 | Nickname of baseball's Leo Durocher |
| 35% | TAD | 3 | Nickname of Lincoln's youngest son |
| 35% | FATHA | 5 | Nickname of jazz's Earl Hines |