Take A Closer Look At The Most Intriguing And Unique Tattoos Found Across The NBA
Watching an NBA game, it's weirdly difficult to find a player who isn't sporting some ink, aka a tattoo. They're almost seemingly as important as a player's jump shot! But like the professional ballers, not every tattoo is created equal.
While some are cringe-worthy and pretentious (sorry, LeBron), others are total tattoo inspiration that might have you running to the nearest parlor.
Richard Jefferson Was 17 When He Got This Tattoo
Former NBA small forward Richard Jefferson arguably has one of the most recognizable tattoos in the league. And, according to the ESPN analyst, it's not for a good reason! The NBA champ actually received the ink when he was 17-years-old and visiting the University of Arizona.
According to Jefferson, "I go there, no thought, no nothing and I was like, 'I have no idea what I should get' and [Bibby, my host] was like, 'Just get your initials.'" Up until that point, no one called Jefferson "RJ." Whoops.
Jayson Tatum Just Doesn't Quit
Jayson Tatum has quite a lot of ink on his body, but one leg tattoo definitely stands out when he's running down the court with the rest of his Boston Celtics teammates. The phrase "I Just Didn't Quit" inked into the back of his calf.
A tribute to the rapper Nipsey Hussle, many players in the NBA either have lyrics, portraits, and/or the duel checkered flags somewhere on their bodies.
Kyrie Irving's Tattoo Symbolizes The Hermetic Brotherhood Of Luxor
Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has a very interesting tattoo on the back of his right hand. An eye inside a star inside of a circle surrounded by various other glyphs, the tattoo actually symbolizes The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, an occult group that went public back in 1894.
Of course, the tattoo has left fans speculating if the NBA player has up and joined the Illuminati when he's not busy training and playing games.
LeBron James, The "Chosen 1"
After being featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2002, LeBron James got "Chosen 1" tattooed across his back, his cover story's title. Wildly considered the greatest basketball player of all time, the four-time NBA champ was only a junior in high school when he got the phrase inked on his body.
Ironically, the editors of the magazine weren't sure about the title of James' story since he was a young and impressionable teenager at the time.
Kyle Kuzma's Monkeys Know How To Avoid Bad Behavior
On his right calf, NBA power forward Kyle Kuzma has a tattoo of three monkeys. But they're not ordinary monkeys. These three represent the age-old philosophy of "hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil."
And while the art is almost cartoonish in nature, the concept is still one Kuzma likes to live by. And who can blame the NBA player? It's a better motto to live by than "monkey see monkey do!"
J.J. Reddick's Gospel Sleeve
It's pretty hard to miss the sleeve on shooting guard J.J Reddick, considering it literally covers his entire arm. In a 2015 interview with Z podcast, Reddick explained the ink, saying, "It's the four evangelical symbols of the Gospel."
"So there’s Matthew who’s a winged man, Mark is a winged lion, Luke is a winged ox, and John is an eagle. Each animal kind of represents a different characteristic of Christianity. It turned out great."
Keita Bates-Diop's Family Tree
Keita Bates-Diop might love playing small forward for the San Antonio Spurs, but if his tattoo says anything, it's that family means a whole lot more to him than an NBA contract.
On his left arm, from shoulder to elbow, Bates-Diop has a tattoo of a family tree. On the trunk is the name Clyde and going from the left branches to the right, the names read, Kai, Mom and Dad, Nayanya, Mema, and Babu.
Jeremy Lamb Is Humble About The '90s Bubble Letters
Indiana Pacers shooting guard Jeremy Lamb is covered in ink, but one leg tattoo stands out for a strange reason. While the message to stay humble is great and meaningful, the NBA player probably could have done without the 1990s Lisa Frank bubble letters and accompanying stars, swirls, and Pegasus horse.
But, hey, to each their own when it comes to what's going to be permanently inked onto their skin, right?!
Derrick Rose's "God Speed" Neck Tattoo
To start, it's ironic that Derrick Rose has gone on record saying that he is terrified of needles. Known to throw a bit of a fit even if he needed stitches; the youngest MVP in NBA history then goes and gets a neck tattoo in 2019!
The tattoo, a triangle with sun rays, and the phrase "God Speed" might be one of Rose's most famous and well-known tattoos, but it also might have been his most painful.
