The many nicknames of Indiana State's Robbie Avila, ranked from Cream Abdul-Jabbar to Larry Nerd

Robbie Avila finally gets to play in the NCAA Tournament. 

Avila, the 6-foot-10 forward with the goggles, game and a handful of nicknames, will leads No. 9 St. Louis (28-5) into a matchup with No. 8 Georgia (22-10) in the Midwest Region at 9:45 p.m. on Thursday. 

Avila averages 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Billikens this season. He followed coach Josh Schertz from Indiana State after leading to the Sycamores to a 32-7 record in 2023-24. That is when his popularity soared, and it led to a variety of nicknames. 

Which one do you prefer? Larry Nerd? Cream Abdul-Jabbar? Let's rank the many nicknames Avila will take with him to the March Madness stage. 

MORE: Robbie Avila's NBA scouting report

How Robbie Avila's nicknames started

Avila has become a viral sensation because of his looks – a 6-10, 240-pound center wearing goggles is going to attract attention. When he was at Indiana State, those nicknames started in earnest. 

Avila played at the same school as Larry Bird – the legend who led the Sycamores to the NCAA men's national championship game in 1979 – a matchup against Michigan State that is widely-credited for spawning the March Madness phenomenon. 

Meet college basketball’s version of Nikola Jokic: pic.twitter.com/QCWU8ojyyx

Robbie Avila's best nicknames 

1. Cream Abdul-Jabbar

This one is hard to top, and Avila even has the goggles to watch the legendary center who was a three-time NCAA champion at UCLA. This will be the nickname that sticks with Avila if the Billikens can make a run – and it will trend on social media throughout March. Avila told TMZ this is his favorite nickname of the bunch. 

2. Larry Nerd 

Bird averaged 30.3 points per game through a three-year career with Indiana State before going on to win three NBA championships with the Boston Celtics. Avila has emerged as Indiana State’s most-popular player since Bird, so the pun fits perfectly and will be the second-most submitted nickname on X.

3. College Jokic 

That is the best comparison to Avila's game. He has an all-around skill-set for a post player that translates outside the lane and below the rim. Avila averages 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists between Indiana State and St. Louis. He had five games this season with 10 or more points, five or more rebounds and five or more assists. 

4. Larry Blurred 

A nice combination of the Larry Bird theme with the goggles, but it doesn't quite hit as hard as the first Bird-inspired nickname. You will also see this spelled "Blurrd," which is a better variation. 

5. Rob Wave 

This is Avila's personal favorite nickname. "My favorite music artist is Rod Wave, and so I got one earlier that was 'Rob Wave."That's always going to be my favorite, but I do like 'Cream Abdul-Jabbar," Avila said on the "Dan LeBatard Show" on March 4, 2024.

6. Milk Chamberlain

Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points and 17.5 rebounds at Kansas in 1958, so we shy away from comparing anybody to "Wilt The Stilt." If Chamberlain is "The Big Dipper," then does that make Avila the "Milky Way?" 

7. Steph Blurry 

It's the weakest one of the bunch. Why not just coach with "Blurry Curry?" Curry, however, was arguably the most-famous NCAA tournament Cinderella of all time. He led Davidson to the Elite Eight in 2008.