Willy Hernangomez: “I no longer pronounce my name ‘Billy’”

New York Knicks rookie center Willy Hernangomez, who dropped a tidy 10 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the Heat in Miami, surprised reporters after the game by announcing that he would no longer be pronouncing his first name “Billy”.

“Honestly, it got too be too much of a hassle,” Hernangomez explained to ESPN’s Ian Begley. “I had to correct everyone, all the time. Now that I’m one of the best young centers in the game, I’m getting tired of fans on the streets yelling out, ‘Hey Willy...I mean Billy!’ From now on, you can just call me ‘Willy’, like it’s spelled.”

This news should come as a great relief to announcers and podcasters, who have inadvertently switched between “Billy” and “Willy” throughout the season.

Hernangomez has really come on since the All-Star break, averaging 11.2 points on 52.2% shooting and 9.5 rebounds in his last 17 games.

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APRIL FOOLS! He still calls himself “Billy.”