Why Bam Knight is called that cool nickname as Cardinals RB and not his real first name

Bam Knight is a fun name for a running back.

It works especially well when the Arizona Cardinals' RB shows off his physical running style.

But no, that's not his real name. And as the Cards take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, here's what you need to know about the origins of this nickname.

MORE: Bills make AFC playoff statement over Chiefs

What is Bam Knight's real name?

Bam Knight's first name is Zonovan.

So that's an official name of Zonovan Knight, which is how he shows up on some betting and fantasy websites.

Why is Bam Knight called Bam as his nickname?

Zonovan "Bam" Knight's nickname goes back to his childhood, as names like these often do.

When he was a toddler, he banged his toys around, and his uncle told the Fayetteville Observer, "all you hear is bam, bam, bam."

That earned him the nickname Bam Bam, and that got shortened to Bam as he got older.

Ironically, this is a similar story to Bam Adebayo, the Miami Heat star.

The basketballing Bam used to run into the tables in his house to earn his nickname, short for Edrice.

Bam is apparently short for both Zonovan and Edrice (just like Bill is short for Jacory). Nicknames are the best.

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