Basketball Player Tattoos

NBA players love tattoos – some even sport full tattoo sleeves, like Indiana Pacers shooting guard Paul George, who boasts one on his right arm! He wears Tattoos that symbolize his spiritual beliefs. One such tattoo featuring his family name is a daily reminder of how dear family is to him.

Chris Bosh

NBA players use their bodies as canvases for eye-catching self-expression. From Chinese emblems and motivational quotes to pictures of friends and family members – NBA players use Tattoos as powerful forms of self-expression on their bodies.

LeBron James

LeBron James may reign as the King of Basketball, but he also boasts one of the most extensive tattoo portfolios among NBA players. His arms and legs feature intricate circular designs with words written around them, while his chest bears an elaborate tattooed design with “chosen 1.”

Kevin Durant and Lonzo Ball

Some NBA Tattoos can be traced back to professional artists; others appear to be created on a beach by amateur artists or drawn quickly in high school homeroom. Some can even be downright embarrassing, like Kevin Durant’s misspelled tattoo and Los Angeles Laker Lonzo Ball’s neck that of the Big Baller Brand logo.

Andrei Kirilenko

The NBA was only sometimes filled with players sporting tattoos. There was once a time when a college education and an unblemished record were enough for entry, until Dennis Rodman came along and started a trend with all his hustle plays, rebounding ability, and all those tattoos on his body.

Bazemore and Damian Lillard

LeBron James is another player with numerous Tattoos on his body. These include the Serenity Prayer on his chest, the North Carolina flag on one arm, and Atlas grasping Earth on both biceps. Bazemore’s Tattoos reveal much about his life. He uses them as reminders of the difficulties he’s encountered along the way and even has a Bible quote tattooed onto his shoulder.

Damian Lillard lets his game speak for itself on the court, but his Tattoos tell a different tale. The Portland Trail Blazers point guard has numerous full-sleeve tattoos, each with a special meaning. On his left arm, Dame has the verse from Psalm 37:6 written in bold font: Those who disregard God will perish like flowers, but those who keep his law will live forever. This Blazers guard has tattooed on his inner bicep an image depicting two wings as an homage to his nickname of Birdman; according to him, his friends used to refer to him this way before becoming widely recognized for his basketball skills. He also bears his mother’s and sister’s names engraved onto his arms. An inscribed pocket watch on his right forearm reads out five minutes, signifying his clutch time skills.

Luol Deng

NBA players seek to intimidate opponents, so they wear multiple Tattoos to intimidate rivals. Unfortunately, not all Tattoos look professional: some appear as though they were drawn during sophomore homeroom class scribbling practice; Caron Butler’s Grim Reaper looks more like an X on a Rorschach test than an intimidating tattoo design on his body. Other players’ Tattoos often reflect religious themes; Monta Ellis has one inked with “Consider it Pure Joy,” an interpretation of James 1:2-3. New York Knicks retiree Anthony Parker also bears “Humble and Hungry.”

The Evolution of NBA Player Tattoos

Basketball players are well known for their toned bodies and tattoos. But that wasn’t always the case: in 1992, USA Dream Team won gold at the Olympics without many visible tats; nowadays, though, most players sport an array of ink adorning their bodies; for instance, Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, each sport large Tattoos on their arms.