How Billy “The Whopper” Paultz Got His Name

Earning an impressive nickname is a right of passage in sports.

The way Billy “The Whopper” Paultz got his name and what it stands for is legendary.

What’s in a Name?

From Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Watkins to Trajan “The Alaskan Assassin” Langdon, and most recently, Robert “The Timelord” Williams. There have been some memorable nicknames in professional basketball over the years.

A nickname can either enhance or break down a player and stick with them long after their playing days are over and they’re sitting around telling “back in my day” stories like Grandpa Simpson.

This is exactly what happened to Billy Paultz, a 6 foot 11, 200-pound center that in his own words “could do a little bit of everything.”

Paultz enjoyed a fruitful 15-year pro career playing for five different ABA and NBA teams.

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He was a 3x ABA All-Star and even led the league in blocked shots during the 1975-76 season, but the most impressive thing about Billy by far is his nickname.

Why They Really Call Him “The Whopper”

For the longest time, it was commonly believed that Paultz got his nickname “The Whopper” simply because he had an affinity for Burger King’s famous hamburger. You know, the one with freshly grilled beef topped with juicy tomatoes, fresh lettuce, creamy mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, and sliced white onions on a soft sesame seed bread bun.

In reality, it’s because he carries a big stick and I’m not talking about a walking cane either.

This was revealed after an NBA reporter was in the Houston Rockets locker room in the 1980s during the time Paultz spent four seasons with the team.

He allegedly caught a glimpse of Billy’s“Whopper” while he was walking out of the shower after a game and the sheer shock and awe imprinted on his face prompted Moses Malone to turn to him and say:

Now you know why we call him “The Whopper“

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