Goggles-wearing ‘baby Jokic’ with incredible NBA nicknames becomes new March Madness hero

Cream Abdul-Jabbar. Larry Nerd. LeBron Frames.

Those are just some of the plethora of nicknames that have been used to describe collegiate basketball star Robbie Avila.

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Standing a 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, Avila has become a viral sensation on social media virtually overnight as he led No. 9 Saint Louis to a blowout 102-77 victory over No. 8 Georgia in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.

In the contest, the stocky center who dons goggles that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became famous for during his Hall of Fame NBA career played a team-high 28 minutes, in which he recorded 12 points shooting four-of-six from the field, five rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks.

“Growing up, I wasn’t the biggest sensation in basketball,” Avila said, via AP.

“And so to get this national attention, I just didn’t let it change me.

“I’m always going to be who I am no matter money, fame or no money, no fame. This is who I am.”

Comparisons to some of the NBA’s most elite

Lumbering up and down the court, the 22-year-old has already drawn some comparisons to that of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, whose physical build doesn’t naturally exude that of a stereotypical athlete, as well as that of the bespectacled George Mikan.

But like that of the Denver Nuggets superstar, Avila – or ‘Baby Jokic’ – can play, and at an elite level at that.

Born and raised in Oak Forest, Illinois, Avila spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Indiana State before making the switch to Saint Louis in 2024.

In his two seasons with the Billikens, the center has averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 29.9 minutes per game.

His 211 career three-pointers also ranks third among centers in the NCAA, which has also seen him earn the nickname Steph Blurry.

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His team-high 12.9 points per contest shooting at a 50.9 percent clip and 4.1 assists across 34 games of the 2025-26 season was enough to see Avila named the Atlantic 10 player of the year.

Saint Louis ultimately went 29-5 (15-3 conference record) to finish top of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Like the very best players in the NBA, Avila has been heavily credited for making his teammates around him better, as well as his role in shaping Saint Louis to be a winning basketball program.

“I’ve never seen a player like him. Never,” Saint Louis guard Dion Brown said.

“He’s 6-10. He thinks like a guard but doesn’t move quite as fast as a guard, but he shoots like a guard.

“There’s just so many ways he can affect the game. He’s someone who can elevate everyone else’s game.”

The Billikens will now take on No. 1 seed Michigan for the chance to progress to March Madness‘ Sweet 16.

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