This is a meaningful story.
Why Syracuse's Nate Kingz changed his last name from birth name to use childhood nickname originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Nate Kingz is one of the best shooters in college basketball with a sweet left-handed stroke for the Syracuse Orange.
The transfer from Oregon State also has one of the best names in the hoops world.
There's a meaningful story behind it, too.
Is Nate Kingz his real name?
No, Nate Kingz wasn't born with that name.
His birth name was Nate Meithof.
Why did he change his name to Nate Kingz?
He legally changed his name in May 2024 to Nate Kingz.
Kingz was raised in foster care, according to OregonLive. Changing his name was a chance to seize his own identity.
Growing up, he had called himself "King" as a nickname, and so he used that as part of the new last name.
“I just wanted to start my own family name, and start it from where I’m at right now, and just keep building it up,” Kingz told OregonLive.
Now shining every time he rises up to shoot the basketball, Kingz is doing his best to start and make that name a lasting one.
MORE:Syracuse's former 16.3 PPG scorer wants to return to college basketball at SU
Category: General Sports
