"We're talking about a name that my mother made up!" - Jalen Rose on people naming their kids after him

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"We're talking about a name that my mother made up!" - Jalen Rose on people naming their kids after him originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Jalen Rose may not be the most recognized name in the history of the sport, but he takes great pride in his name's legacy. In every endeavor he undertakes, Rose consistently strives for excellence and gives his best, something that has certainly not gone unnoticed.
Many fans still remember Rose's name, and in fact, some of them have even gone so far as to name their children after him. For Rose, this unbelievable phenomenon speaks volumes about what kind of career he had and the admirable qualities he displayed as a player.
Moreover, Jalen firmly believes that the overwhelming number of kids named after him is a perfect reflection of the lasting impression he has made on the game.
"It means everything," Rose told HoopsHype of his name's unique legacy. "And when you talk about impact on the game and impact on today's players, I always think about how crazy it is that people have named their kids after me."
"People like Denzel Washington and Shaquille O'Neal are two of the greatest at what they do, so people would obviously name their kids after them," he continued. "But people have named their kids after me? We're talking about a name that my mother made up! What? I'm sitting at the NBA Draft and hearing, 'With the No. 3 overall pick, the Boston Celtics select Jaylen Brown.' What? Or I hear about Jalen Ramsey on the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's a common name now!"
Before being drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the 1994 NBA Draft, Rose was one of the most prominent college players in the country. In his junior year, he averaged an impressive tally of 19.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
During his three-year stint with the University of Michigan, Jalen was a two-time consensus All-American and a key member of the school's elite squad famously known as "The Fab Five." Rose looks back at his time with the group with deep gratitude. He truly believes that it was the Fab Five's success that made him a notable figure in the eyes of many hoops fans at the time.
"If people hate you, they definitely aren't naming their kid after you," the 2000 NBA Most Improved Player pointed out."That right there, to me, was like my personal [achievement] that the Fab Five helped make happen. And that's special because that name is going to continue long after I'm gone."
Prime Rose was indeed ahead of his time. His overall game was like what many consider in today's NBA as sexy. He had the ability to attack the basket and a sweet outside shooting. That being said, it's no surprise that many parents wanted their children to be the next Jalen.
To gain a deeper insight into Rose's impact, the NBA conducted an extensive and comprehensive study examining professional athletes named Jalen or with similar sound but different spelling. The data were quite surprising as it revealed that "Jalen" has emerged as one of the most popular names in the realm of professional sports in recent years.
The statistical trend suggested that the name Jalen has been appealing to younger generations and has become synonymous with talent and success.
"For the 2024-25 season, there are 15 teams with a Jalen (or variation) on their roster – half the league. When you include all spellings, 3% of the NBA is named Jalen this season," the article read.
"The NBA isn't the only league with an influx of Jalens. There have been three in the WNBA, 58 in the NFL, 322 in NCAA basketball and 496 in NCAA football."
"To put the rise of the name Jalen into perspective, the other most popular names in the NBA since 2000 have been Chris, Jordan and Josh — all names with origins that date back over 1,000 years. The data makes it clear – Jalen Rose's game and his mother's innovation created the most popular name in the NBA and inspired the next generation of athletes," it states.Despite his remarkable skills, Rose was never viewed as a superstar during his NBA career. In fact, he never even earned a single All-Star selection to his name. However, that didn't mean that the former Fab Five star didn't reach legendary status.
Jalen had his breakout year in 2000, having averaged his first career-best 18.2 points per game. Along with Reggie Miller, he led the Indiana Pacers to an NBA Finals appearance.
Since then, Rose has become one of the most prolific scorers in the league. However, the league was plagued with big-name superstars in his position at the time. Iconic figures such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter understandably gained more popularity than Jalen.
Nevertheless, the growing number of modern-day athletes who carry the same name is a testament to the legacy he has built as a player. Arguably, this makes Rose a legend in his own right.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.