Did you know that 70% of NBA players are covered with tattoos nowadays?
They say that tattoos make a man; but for these NBA athletes, tattoos
make them superstars!
A trend that can be traced back to Dennis Rodman and Allen Iverson,
tattoos have become a popular way for NBA players to express themselves on
and off the court.
From photo-realistic portraits to cartoon characters, family
members’ names to bible verses, and motivational inscriptions,
you’ve probably seen it all when you enjoyed a superstar-level
streaming with your
NBA League Pass subscription through PLDT Home.
If you’re curious about some of the most tattooed NBA superstars,
here’s a look at some of the players, their ink, and the stories
behind them!
Kevin Durant
One of Kevin Durant’s most notable tattoos is the large piece on his
chest—a collection of different tattoos, including a dove, a rose,
his grandmother’s name Barbara, and his mother’s name Wanda.
Durant revealed that he was incredibly close to his grandmother,
especially when his parents divorced when he was 13 years old.
The Brooklyn Nets' power forward and small forward also has Maryland
etched on his back, in reference to his hometown. Along with this is an
angel holding a basketball and two hands symbolizing the numbers 3 and 5
that make up his former jersey number 35.
LeBron James
There’s no telling just how many tattoos Lebron James has on his
body, but a recurring theme among his many tattoos remains to be initials,
names, and phrases.
James has a huge “Chosen 1” tattoo that occupies his back and
a small “Gifted Child” on his chest. On both his arms, he
wears the quote, “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” You
can also read the names Gloria and Bryce Maximus on his arms. (He also has
a portrait of his son Lebron Jr. on his left forearm.) The initials L and
J can also be found on his triceps, KJ1 on his right hand, and
“Family” and “Loyalty” on either side of his abs.
Jordan Clarkson
How can we forget about kabayan Jordan Clarkson? While he
didn’t have any ink when he started his career in the league, he
quickly went from 0 to 100 as he now sports tattoos all over.
In an interview with
Closeup360, the shooting guard revealed that he’s always wanted body art that
represented “family, loss, and new beginnings.” That’s
why among the images you’ll find tattooed on him include homages to
his daughter, his parents, his late best friend Cameron Moore, and former
LA Lakers captain, the late Kobe Bryant. He also has a tattoo of his
younger self in a Superman costume.
Kyle Kuzma
Inspired by his childhood favorites Allen “The Answer” Iverson
and Chris “Birdman” Anderson, Kyle Kuzma also has an extensive
collection of tattoos.
The Washington Wizards forward revealed to
GQ Sports that
his first tattoo at 18 is the lion on his left shoulder, representing his
zodiac sign Leo, which also transitions into a basketball. Some of the art
close to his heart also include his mother’s green eye, an homage to
his hometown, Flint, Michigan, and Monopoly’s Rich Uncle Pennybags,
inspired by his favorite childhood board game. Kuzma has names of his
sister and brother inked on his body, as well as an angel that represents
his late grandfather.
Lonzo Ball
Last but not least on this list, Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball is
another one of many professional ballers who wears his ink on his sleeves.
(Pun intended!)
He has a montage of influential people in black history inked on his left
sleeve, including Malcolm X, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa
Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Jackie Robinson.
He also has “Motivated by Jesus, Dedicated to the Game”
written on his left hand and “Born to Ball Because of Him” on
his right. Other scripts on his body include “Fear God” and
Samuel L. Jackson’s bible verse from Pulp Fiction.
While it’s still the off-season, you can continue enjoying all the
NBA action with a subscription to NBA League Pass via PLDT Home. Learn
more about it here!