The NBA’s Finest Ink: A List Of The League’s Top 10 Tattoos

What’s an NBA blogger to do on the 112th day of the lockout?  Rank the league’s top 10 tattoos, of course!  People who are aware of my website–mostly the ones who choose not to read it very often–sometimes ask me things like “what in the world are you possibly writing about these days?”  Well, folks, here is yet another answer to your question… not that you’ll be here to read it.

Note: I tried to be objective here and consider various aspects of what makes a tattoo good: artwork, placement, originality, etc.  I also considered what kind of impact, if any, the tattoo had on the NBA.  What I did not do is simply jot down my favorite pieces in the league and put them in order.  If that was the case, DeShawn Stevenson’s neck tribute to Abe Lincoln would be near the top of the list.  Yes, a lot of these tattoos are favorites of mine, but that’s not why they’re on the list or ranked where they’re ranked.

Moving right along…

#10. Tyrus Thomas’s “Born Soldier”

Tyrus has a lot of nice pieces, my personal favorite being the “born soldier” joint on his left arm.  I’ve never been able to find a great picture of it, but you can see it at the bottom right in the picture above as well as in the following video…

I’m a big fan of the filigree on T-Time’s arms.  I think it looks a lot nicer than your typical flames and clouds.  Overall, his tattoos come together very well.  As you’ve probably noticed, a lot of guys that get inked piece by piece come out looking like a piece of scratch paper covered in unrelated doodles.

#9. Matt Barnes “Believe”

This piece was the inspiration behind the “We Believe” campaign of the ’07 Warriors.  ‘Nuff said.

#8. Ben Wallace’s “Big Ben”

This tattoo is so cool it makes me wish I was a scary black man with arms the size of barrels and an awesome nickname that translates so perfectly into an image of the world’s most famous clock.  Despite my wishing, I remain a scrawny white man with arms like pipe cleaners and no nicknames to speak of.

#7. Chris Andersen’s bird-themed pieces

Minus the “Free Bird” sh!t on his throat.  That one looks terrible.  I’m referring to the wings on his inner arms and that mean lookin’ blue bird with the crown that you can see peaking out of the collar of his jersey.  Ever since he got it a few years ago I’ve thought that the crowned bird is one of the most well-executed pieces in the league.  The work is excellent, the placement is perfect, and it obviously fits in perfectly with his persona.  It looked even better before he added all the colorful nonsense above it.  Even when you look like Chris Andersen, there is such a thing as over-doing it.

^^This is the point when he should’ve thrown the needle into a haystack.  The bird looked perfect on it’s own.

#6. Allen Iverson’s “Only the Strong Survive”

A common phrase paired with a common cross image; nothing too special.  So why is this on the list?  Well, I assume you’ve probably noticed that a variety of other NBA players were sporting this exact combo a few years after Iverson debuted it.  This is probably his most well-known tattoo, and the fact that it inspired so many copycats shows you how big his impact on the culture of basketball was.  The NBA is covered with tattoos now, but when I think “NBA tattoo,” the first name that will come to mind will always be Allen Iverson.  I imagine that’s how it is for many basketball fans.

#5. Kenyon Martin’s back piece

Many like to argue that God is not a man.  That may be so, but not even Kenyon’s biggest detractor’s can say that this isn’t some of the finest work the league has to offer.  Even if it’s not worded exactly right, what he’s getting at is obvious: he’s fearless.  Based on the way he plays the game… I’m not going to argue with that.

#4. Drew Gooden’s melting clock

I’ve read that this is Dali-inspired, but that’s about all I know about it.  The time on the melting clock is set to 11:11, apparently for good luck.  Whatever it’s meaning, it looks pretty damn cool.  Normally I don’t like tattoos with so much color, but I’ve got to admit, this one came out great.

#3. Rasheed Wallace’s Egyptian art

Over the years, both Rasheed and the artwork on his right shoulder became fan favorites.  The tattoo was so popular that Nike actually decided to feature it in a commercial (the tattoo artist then sued Nike).  Rasheed explains the meaning of the ink in the advertisement…

It’s certainly one of the most interesting pieces the league has to offer, and it’s clearly very meaningful to Rasheed.  It’s got a creative aspect as well.  Most guys who want to honor their family in a tattoo get some script of their names, a family tree of some sort, or pictures of their faces.  The Egyptian theme is different; I’ve never seen another tattoo like it.

#2. Carlos Boozer’s self portrait

Carlos Boozer has a lot of tattoos that look positively excellent.  He has a chest piece by Mr. Cartoon, a scary looking polar bear on his left arm, and my favorite, a shadowy image of himself standing beneath the Alaskan skyline.  Overall, Boozer may have the finest tattoos in the NBA.  Most of his pieces are very unique and extremely detailed.

#1. Wilson Chandler’s Juggernaut back piece

This is f@cking ill, plain and simple.  My favorite tattoo in the NBA.  It’s the type of tattoo that one should have to earn, yet most don’t.  I mean, a chubby, 5’8, 27-year-old cashier at McDonald’s should not be allowed to sport something like this.  If I was in charge there would be a law forbidding such a thing.  To sport this, one should have to prove that they are truly unstoppable by accomplishing something special, such as making it to the NBA.  Unfortunately, losers are inked with triumphant tattoos every single day.