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NBA games are a fight between some of the best basketball players in the world on any given night. However, the courts are gradually becoming more than simply a showcase for athletes' physical abilities; they've also become a showcase for some of the best and most unique NBA player tattoos. From sleeve tattoos to elaborate face tattoos, the NBA has evolved into a center for world-class basketball and body art, showcasing some of the most cutting-edge tattooing styles.
In the NBA, there are a lot of players with tattoos on their bodies. So we will compile a list of the top ten NBA player tattoos. We are well aware that it will be difficult because some NBA star is getting tattooed up now, with each passing minute.
Every player wishes to have the most beautiful tattoo design on their body. Dennis Rodman and Allen Iverson helped popularise this tattoo trend among NBA players. In today's NBA, nearly 70% of players have tattoos on their bodies. So let’s check out the history and the influence behind these NBA player tattoos.
Top 10 NBA player Tattoos
1. Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen
Christopher Claus Andersen dubbed the "Birdman," is without a doubt the most tattooed NBA player of all time. After retiring from the NBA in 2017, he now plays for Power in the BIG3 league. In 2017, he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2013, Andersen won the NBA championship with the Miami Heat.
In 2018, he became the Big 3 title for the first time. Apart from the NBA, Andersen also played in the American minor leagues and the Chinese Basketball Association.
2. J.R. Smith
J.R. Smith, one of the NBA's most tattooed players, last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played in the NBA for five different teams from 2004 to 2022. The New Orleans Hornets drafted him in 2004.
In 2012, he had named the CBA All-Star team and won the CBA scoring championship. In 2013, he was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year. In 2016, Smith also won the NBA championship.
3. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant, one of the wealthiest basketball players globally, is currently a member of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. He was also known for being one of the most tattooed NBA players. In 2014, Durant was named NBA MVP. In 2017 and 2018, he was named NBA Finals MVP twice a row.
He also won the NBA Championship twice in a row. Between 2010 and 2022, Durant was named to the NBA All-Star squad ten times.
4. Monta Ellis
After 12 seasons in the NBA, basketball great Monta Ellis retired from the Indiana Pacers in 2017. He's also one of the most heavily tattooed NBA players of all time. The Golden State Warriors were the first to notice this rising star in 2005.
In 2005, he was named Mr. Basketball USA, and the following year, he was named to the Parade All-American first team. In 2007, Ellis was named the NBA's Most Improved Player.
5. Wilson Chandler
Wilson Chandler is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. He became well-known as one of the most tattooed NBA players and one of the league's oldest active players.
In 2005, he was named to the Parade All-American third team, and in 2006, he was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team. In 2007, Chandler was named to the All-Big East second team.
6. Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin was a basketball player who spent 15 seasons in the NBA with six different teams. He began his basketball career in 2002 with the New Jersey Nets and retired in 2015 with the Milwaukee Bucks. Aside from that, he's one of the most tattooed NBA players.
In 2000, he was named the National College Player of the Year. In 2002, he was named NABC Defensive Player of the Year and Conference USA Player of the Year.
7. DeShawn Stevenson
DeShawn Stevenson, a retired NBA player, has a rightful place among the league's most tattooed players. He played in the NBA for 13 seasons and six different teams.
With the New Jersey Nets, DeShawn Stevenson won the NBA championship in 2011. However, he did the majority of his career with the Washington Wizards. In 2017, Stevenson joined the Power of the BIG3 league.
8. Andrei Kirilenko
Andrei Kirilenko, a Russian basketball star, primarily played in the Russian league, although he has appeared in the NBA. In 2004, he was named an NBA All-Star, and in 2006, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
He also became known for being one of the most tattooed NBA players. In 2007, this basketball player was named EuroBasket MVP. In addition, he was named EuroLeague MVP in 2012.
9. Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh, an NBA superstar, was selected in the same draught as NBA legends LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. From 2003 until 2010, Bosh was a member of the Toronto Raptors. Then, in 2010, he joined the Miami Heat, where he remained until 2017.
He is one of the most tattooed NBA players, with many markings covering his body. This two-time NBA champion was named an unprecedented eleven times to the NBA All-Star team.
10. Kobe Bryant
One of the greatest NBA players of all time, Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He's also one of the most inked NBA players, having amazing ink all over his body.
In 2008, this five-time NBA champion was named NBA MVP. He also won the NBA Finals MVP award twice in a row, in 2009 and 2010. In addition, in 2008 and 2012, Bryant won the Olympic gold medal.
Final Thought- NBA's expanding tattoo culture and its influence
A new type of influencer has emerged due to the NBA's expanding tattoo culture. As tattoos have become more prevalent, part of the NBA's culture shift has been influenced by broader developments in the United States. Though it's difficult to estimate how many people have tattoos, according to a 2019 poll by market research firm Ipsos, three out of ten adults in the United States have at least one.
And, as their popularity develops, more individuals are concerned about the quality of the ink they receive, conducting research ahead of time to select the most significant artist. Carrasco has noted that some players have lower-quality tattoos before entering the league, which they later replace with higher-quality pieces once they start making money.
The NBA veteran Derrick Rose of the New York Knicks is an example of this, according to tattoo artist Jose Guijosa, who has tattooed him several times. Younger players on the rise, who may be in college now, are taking attention as more players in the league get nicer tattoos. G League guard DJ Steward's first tattoo was done by Guijosa when he was still a student at Duke University.
The amount of ink used isn't the only thing that's changing. The places where athletes acquire tattoos have also changed. According to Carrasco, leg and knee tattoos have grown in popularity, especially as the number of tattoos people acquire grows.
Mangano compares the infatuation with NBA tattoos to how people follow fashion celebrities in some aspects.
Just a smidgeon more intense.
