He was planning to have Capris name tattooed as well on February 5th. Honor Award . Maybe a big wave with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background? All rights reserved. Here we have a gallery of the most tattooed NBA players and stories behind the great variety of their tattoos. The 7-foot Serbian also has a fairly clean stroke from the perimeter, which often draws opposing bigs out of position. Keith "Bang Bang" McCurdy: most famous clients- LeBron James, Odell Beckham Jr. But if there is a tattoo that stands out, the huge tattoo on his back features the full James 1:2-4 psalm, the portrait of Jesus, the number 35, and an angel holding a basketball. However, we wanted to single out a simple tattoo he has on his leg that reads, "Witness," which may call to mind those Nike ads. A glance at a photo of the 1992 USA Basketball "Dream Team," which won gold at the Olympics and featured the talents of. A Splash Brothers tattoo may seem appropriate in Thompsons case. Hes not just a force in the paint, however. DeShawn-Stevenson-Tattoo. Bryant got the names of his first three daughters tattooed on his forearm: Natalia Diamante, Bianka Bella, and Gianna Maria Onore. He can score in multiple ways and shines the brightest during Dame Time. In his free time, he either goes fishing or watches basketball. What is the tattoo on Jordan Henderson leg? No tattoos.. During that time, he was still a prospect with a lot to prove. Clarkson, now with the Utah Jazz, doesn't subscribe to that notion. When the NBA eventually returns from hiatus, we'll once again see dunks, blocks, steals and . NBA players had to win a little sartorial freedom. Chris Paul is one of the longest-tenured players in the NBA and one of the greatest players of all time. Now a member of the Boston Celtics, Walker is continuing to produce, and he seems to have no discomfort in his previously injured knee. Not trying to judge, but there was at one point where Butler had to thought about getting a tattoo just based on the crowd he was hanging around. Sam Smith wrote: Little known is he has a tattoo, an omega horseshoe above his left breast that he always was a bit sensitive about. Perhaps that explains why hes always kept it on the down low. Before the tattoos, Ellis had a breakout season where he averaged 20.2 points per game. Among the texts etched on his body, we can highlight the famous basketball shot SWISH (under his chin), My time to Shine (neck), BLESSED (chest), Blood Brothas (abdomen), In Love WITH MY MONEY (left side abdomen), THROUGH THE FIRE (right arm), Always Loyal People and Just Klownin (back), God understands (left forearm), KING OF NEW JERSEY (left arm), or One For My Family (knuckles). Allen has the words RA Boogie etched on his neck as a tribute to Rahsaan, a childhood friend who was tragically killed. In fact, during that time period, more than 100 players received tattoos of their initials. So as soon as I afford to get to wear real diamonds, I went and got my ears pierced. From that moment on, tattoos became a lifestyle. It looks good, and it's certainly impactful. No chains, shorts or T-shirts. Name These NBA Stars without Tattoos! 0. All-Time Heat. It might seem surprising to some people, but Ben Simmons is another well-known player without any tattoos. Tattoos are pretty popular in the NBA. On top of that, hes never won it all. Why did LeBron have to cover his tattoos? His NBA career began in Chicago, where he played six seasons with the Bulls. It looks amazing, and it's an original, fresh design. J.R. Smith has carved out a reputation of being good but boneheaded at the same time. Jordan has a small tattoo above his left breast. However, there are few who truly see the court as well as he does. Stay tuned for the fresh, sporty telling, and check out other articles to share it with your friends! a 4-year $142 million contract with the Miami Heat in 2019. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images. - Advertisement - Contents. Below, you can find a list of the most tattooed NBA players of all time. Beyond his rebounding and shooting prowess, Jokic is also an excellent facilitator and arguably the best passing center in the game today. Artists have an incentive to sign rather than pass up a client who could be a billboard for their work. You have fashion weeks you can go to, and it's just a different way to network and connect - I mean, on, like, a business scale. 'NBA 2K' creators win ruling in case brought by tattoo artists - Sports Then enters Allen Iverson with his cornrows and oversized shorts. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. She said, Honey, would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?. Even though Chris has retired from the courts of NBA since 2017, he is still considered as a tattoo icon in the league's history. In fact, there are many high-profile or well known athletes who dont have anything at all. Much like his Shaq logo tattoo on his left forearm, ONeal has another silhouette inspired tattoo on his opposite side. It doesn't really matter, though. Some players, like Jason Richardson, called the code racist. We have carefully selected 25 of the very weirdest, interesting and flat out awesome tattoos of NBA players. He has a Muhammad Ali, a Bob Marley, a weird, creepy mouth, and just a ton of other stuff. You could go a lot of different ways with a tattoo featuring The Greek Freak as its headline, but the Milwaukee Bucks superstar doesnt have any ink yet. He eventually became 6th Man of the Year in 2021. Try and take a close look at it sometime. GALVAN: You can't talk about the business of fashion in the NBA without recognizing the kicks, especially the legacy of Jordans, the most pervasive sneaker on and off the court. The tattoo on Irving's left forearm led to accusationsthat he had joined the Illuminati. His body is all inked up from his neck to his back, arms, legs, hands, and chest. His lack of tattoos is perhaps an example of that mentality. Accuracy and availability may vary. Muscala's Mario. However, there are many who decide to abstain from the images for various reasons. Jimmy Butler's "no tattoos" stance The five-time NBA All-physique Star's is devoid of tattoos. Both factors could show why the superstar doesnt have anything on his body. While we saw Iverson as one of the notable tattooed NBA players, he barely had any during his basketball days at Bethel High School. 4. Like Ball, Clarkson was also drafted by the Lakers. The veteran is now the leader of an upstart Oklahoma City Thunder squad. Are there any NBA players without tattoos? In a recent interview with GQ, Jimmy revealed, I do not, I do not have any tattoos. The same can be said about his tattoos, which reference his family, origins, and roots. And I learned that players and athletes, that's what they really want to talk about. Nope. Even if he only has one tattoo on his back, he is worth including on this list due to the impressive nature of this ink artwork. tattoos. He has an extensive knowledge of football, basketball, and baseball, but he also likes to play other sports like soccer and hockey. For these players, we look at the top-10 NBA players that are tattoo-free. The "Sacrifice" on the stomach may be gilding the lily, but the lettering is impeccable on that tattoo. At 18-9, the 76ers lead the Eastern Conference. But before becoming the NBA star he is now, Lillard looked different during his high school days at Oakland. A glance at a photo of the 1992 USA Basketball "Dream Team," which won gold at the Olympics and featured the talents of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Scottie Pippen, will reveal. His lack of tattoos is perhaps an example of that mentality. Players unions, many of which license the players likenesses to video game publishers, and sports agents have advised athletes to secure licensing agreements before they get tattooed. In fact, during the 2021-2022 season, 55% of the players in the league sported a visible tattoo. Stars like James, Lillard, McGrady, Kobe, and the like, their tattoo designs can be described as very classic, well-known to fans. King James is tatted up to the nines, and for the most part his ink looks good. He doesn't have one. Below are some of the most famous tattoo artists with a huge following and clientele consisting of celebrities and NBA players: Steve Wiebe: most famous clients- Kevin Durant, DeAndre Jordan, Damian Lillard. We have one question though: What the heck is this thing on his arm? Somenot so much. Allen went one step further and named his son Rahsaan. Williamson is poised to become the next face of the franchise once he gets a little older. Damian Lillard is one of the most talented guards today. 2 draft pick taken one slot ahead of Michael Jordan in 1984 . However, he still doesnt have anything and likely never will. Stars like James, Lillard, McGrady, Kobe, and the like, their tattoo designs can be described as very classic, well-known to fans. All rights reserved. Iverson took a cue from Rodman and continued the trend, to the point now where roughly 70% of NBA players have tattoos. Little LeBron before tattoos. Jeremy Lamb: "Dagger" Getty Images Jeremy Lamb, shooting. "I just want something nice, so I wear sleeves.". Please Tell Me if I'm Incorrect on any of them. Lakers superstar LeBron James, for instance, has a crowned lion on his right bicep. Getting inked up is common in the NBA. NPR's Pilar Galvan says there's some history behind the clothes. Hand tattoos almost never work well, and Beasley's designs are particularly busy and bad. By, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Kyle Lowry. He played for a range of teams and never won a championship. LANCE FRESH: We got to talk about what the guys are wearing coming to the game and sneakers and things like that. Well root for that. Top 10 NBA Players Without Tattoos - Fadeaway World His killer cross-ups and skillfully aimed passes are often borrowed by other players. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Dennis Rodman has always loved the spotlight! Bonus points for choosing a flying Mario, which feels fitting for a basketball player. It's hard to believe that after all these years of being a member of the "Splash Bros," that no sort of art resembling that motto is tatted on his skin. But after a dismal NBA Finals appearance in 2018, that seemed to flip a switch. Still makes me laugh. This may be the best tattoo in all of the NBA. is a rapper who a lot of people would assume definitely has tattoos but in reality, he doesnt have any tattoos! It's pure nightmare fuel. He takes utmost pride in his roots and also remains unfiltered in his interviews. Its true that he could not do the same with the Sixers and also that he had a tough time gelling up with the Timberwolves. The tattoos covering their arms are known as sleeves in the tattoo world. When did NBA players start getting tattoos? Some choose a design, symbol, or name that has meaning to them. There's so much bombast and craziness that you get overwhelmed and don't really enjoy your experience. The art of tattooing has been around for centuries. LeBron James Steve Mitchell-USA. But what does he still lack? Please check your email for a confirmation. Escobedo had originally . This is just a design. Jimmy Butler. He is one of a few footballers without tattoos. Here we have a gallery of the most tattooed NBA players and stories behind the great variety of their tattoos. Copyright 2023 NPR. The NBA star takes great pride in being a father and shares a great love for his little daughter. As the resident bad boy in the NBA, it was no surprise that Rodman was more inked up than the rest of the league. This is a busy tattoo, but it still looks sharp and clear. ! Given that Giannis is the recipient of the last two Most Valuable Player awards, he is arguably the best player on this list without a tattoo. Getting inked up is common in the NBA. The tattoo culture in the United States has always been prevalent in hip-hop music, and now that style is spreading to other genres such as basketball. Apart from being a highly skilled basketball player, Monta Ellis is also extremely fond of tattoos. CHRISTOPHER: For me and my deal and for the brand was for me to be myself but, at the same time, throw some Js on it with it too. This picture captures Andersens evolution as far as tattoos are concerned from when he joined the NBA. To commemorate the biggest achievement of his career, Henderson had the iconic trophy inked onto his left thigh, with the date of the triumph written beneath. So much so that most pro basketball players have some sort of ink on their body. As it stands today, Shailene Woodley doesnt have any tattoos because she feels like her life story has just begun and she doesnt quite know what a tattoo of hers would say just yet. Harden never got into tattoos, rather the beard. Yes, the '90s sitcom. Ink on the neck is always a bad idea. Muscala's Mario tattoo looks great, and he's a delightful and beloved pop culture icon that is instantly recognizable. In 2015, news broke that Butler had been charged with two counts of domestic violence against two different women. BONUS: Surprise tatted/non tatted players? Hip-hop artists have been known to wear their favorite rappers' names on their bodies, which has helped fuel the rise of basketball players getting tatted up. CP3 has been an inspiration to young point guards around the globe. Sometime after joining the Bulls in 2017, he stopped wearing sleeves. He is incredibly athletic but also has the tendency to make the most head-scratching plays. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. James Harden is a true NBA journeyman. Whether or not there is a meaning behind a tattoo, totally depends on the player. Some athletes might choose to have inkwork done to commemorate such a stint, but he did not, which is totally fine. With NBA playoffs underway, players are showing off their talents - NPR Basketball players just love tattoos. He was still a young but talented player who was trying to make a name for himself. From his work on "Project Runway" to Bleacher Report, he lays it all out. The Pelicans forward is one of the most high-profile and fun-to-watch players in all of the NBA. The face of the Toronto Raptors, even with Kawhi Leonard was there, is one of the grittiest players in the league. GALVAN: Athletes like Josh Christopher feel that responsibility. While he wasnt a top prospect, teams paid him for his hustle which allowed him to carve out a lengthy NBA career. Tattoos are extremely popular in the NBA. On his left leg, he has a Homer Simpson, which is awesome. Tattoo artist Victor Escobedo was awarded $22,500 for his lion tattoo that was portrayed on UFC fighter Carlos Condit without his permission in THQ's "UFC Undisputed" game. The 5-time NBA All-star has everything but tattoos on his body. He enjoys his role, likes playing the game, but is never too outspoken.
