The NBA stars are famous for their on-court skills, but many players are now becoming well-known for their tattoos, as the trend for ink continues to grow. Thanks to NBA jersey’s, tattoos are more visible on players than in many other sports, so it’s no surprise that their ink is getting noticed.
Whether it’s a celebration of important dates, a reminder of a loved one, or to celebrate a sporting achievement, there are multiple reasons athletes decide to go under the needle. Here’s our round-up of the best tattoos in the NBA.
Demar Derozan
Team: Chicago Bulls
One of the Chicago Bulls most famous players is veteran Demar Derozan. The shooting guard has several pieces of artwork on his body, the most obvious of which are the two on his left and right shoulder.
When his father Frank passed away in 2021, D-Roz had his portrait inked on his left shoulder, while his right shoulder bears a picture of the famous Batman character, The Joker. Below that is the quote: “Before you judge anybody, make sure you’re perfect.”
Other ink includes his mother’s name, Diane, as well as a tribute to his late Grandmother, Barbara, Malcolm X and his hometown of Compton.
Austin Rivers
Team: Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets point guard has plenty of ink including several he got in high school. His right forearm bears a striking image of Jesus Christ, but his all-time favorite tattoo is on his right leg and is an image of Martin Luther King and his famous quote:
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
With the Nuggets among the favorites for the NBA championship according to the latest NBA lines, don’t rule out Rivers adding a tattoo commemorating his first ever NBA title come June.
Jordan Clarkson
Team: Utah Jazz
Point Guard Clarkson has some impressive ink on his body and is one of the most tattooed athletes in the NBA, with tributes to individuals who mean the most to him adorning his body.
His upper torso is now covered in art that honors his parents, daughter, and a close childhood friend who passed away. Clarkson claims the tatts act as a reminder of the people who have supported him throughout his life and not just throughout his basketball career.
One of the more startling pieces of art is the three skills under his chin and along his jawline, while his right shoulder bears a horse’s face which signifies freedom and power. His left arm has two aces next to a pair of dice, representing good luck, and his right forearm depicts a brick wall, and a skull and crossbones. The player’s right thigh pays homage to several NBA players.
Lebron James
Team: L.A. Lakers
Superstar Lebron is one of the most famous players in the sports history and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. But it’s not just his performances that make him a stand out on court, because Lebron is also a big fan of tattoos.
His ink ranges from motivational quotes to celebrations of loved ones, but his biggest piece of art is LeBron’s nickname “Chosen 1” on his upper back. One of his most recent tatt’s is a black mamba snake curled around the 24-8 digits, in a touching tribute to his friend and basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Kyle Kuzma
Team: Washington Wizards
The Wizards Small Forward got the first tatt at the age of 18 – a lion’s head inked on his left shoulder – and he hasn’t looked back since. The NBA star often shares his new ink with his 4.9 million followers on his Instagram page.
Kuzma’s back features an impressive mountain range inked by celeb tat artist Herchell L. Carrasco. The large image spans from shoulder to shoulder and represents his 2014 to 2017 days at Utah. It took over six hours.
His stomach bears the image of a stairway that rises up towards shafts of light and a cross in the sky, while s snake, gorilla, Ford emblem and ‘Kuzmania’ are amongst some of the other ink that covers his body.
Another stand-out tattoo is a biblical scripture from Matthew 7:13 on his torso, which says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide, and the path that leads to disaster is broad, and many people enter through it.”
The most common tattoos
Thanks to social media and the popularity of the NBA, body art has never been more popular among athletes. Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King and players’ family members are common inkings, while the names of wives and children also feature highly, along with quotes from the bible.
