Deron Williams Doesn't Like His Nicknames

Deron Williams is coming into his own this year, emerging from Chris Paul's shadow to become arguably the best point guard of the 2005 draft. (Agree or disagree, you have to admit an argument can be made.) In fact, by ranking in the league's top five with 8.6 assists per game, Williams is already being mentioned among some select company at his position.

Even in the relative obscurity of Salt Lake City, Williams is getting plenty of attention, and, much to his chagrin, some new nicknames. From the Salt Lake Tribune's Jazz Notes:

If you haven't heard Rod Hundley call a game in awhile, you might wonder who this "Slick" character he keeps referring to is. Deron Williams does, too.

Hundley encountered Williams in the Jazz locker room a few weeks ago, and the point guard was dressed in his traveling clothes -- a business suit. "I just said, 'Hey, Slick,' because he looked so sharp," Hundley said. "A light went on in my head. 'Slick.' It fits him."

So Hundley now uses that nickname more than Williams' actual name. "I think it'll stick," he said.

Does Slick like the new nickname? Not really:

"No, but that's Hot Rod. He's going to call me whatever he wants," Williams said. "I don't like any of my nicknames here."

For the most part, that's a collection that includes "Willie," and "D-Willie," which originally came from strength coach Mark McKown and his South Carolina drawl. Pretty much everybody around the team addresses Williams that way now.

As much as Williams isn't a fan of Slick, Willie or D-Willie, I'm sure he can at least appreciate the fact that everyone knows how to correctly pronounce them.