Oklahoma City Thunder, 2011-12
Tattoo percentage: 53% (8 players with tattoos, 7 without)
It wasn’t that long ago that OKC had a reputation for having the fewest tattooed players in the league. But during the 2011 playoffs, Durant inadvertently revealed the density of tattoos on his stomach, which he followed up with a huge back piece during the offseason. Joined by new tattoos for Eric Maynor and Royal Ivey, the reputation seemed to flip, with OKC emerging as the sixth-most tattooed team in the league last year. With some off-season roster changes, things have relaxed a bit, with the Thunder now meeting the league average for tattoo percentage.
Players with tattoos:
Daequan Cook
Among Cook’s many (10+) tattoos are his daughter’s name and the words “Daddy’s Angel.”
Kevin Durant
During the summer of 2011, Durant had a huge tribute to his home state and his deceased coach tattooed on his back. The design has been referred to as a “business tattoo” since the entire design is hidden by his uniform. A recent interview with the tattoo artist, Randy Harris, revealed that Durant insisted that the tattoo be hidden in this way: “He went out of his way to tell me to not have the tattoos go out of his jersey because he does look at himself as a role model to kids.”
Derek Fisher
Fisher has a couple of Chinese characters tattooed on his right forearm that translate to “to be faithful in heart, mind, and spirit.”
Royal Ivey
Born and raised in New York, Ivey has a full back piece repping the city, with the statue of liberty, the twin towers, and the Queensboro bridge among other landmarks. In a Fanhouse video interview, he explained that “every one of my tattoos means something” and went on to explain the “eye of the beholder” design on his forearm: “you know, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ and that’s the man above so that’s why I put it.”
Eric Maynor
Maynor is the third Thunder player to have work done by Randy Harris of Tattoos by Randy. During the summer of 2011, he had his entire right arm filled in by Randy. DailyThunder.com did a great before and after comparison on their site.
Nazr Mohammed
Mohammed has his name tattooed on his left shoulder above a basketball passing through a hoop.
Kendrick Perkins
Perkins wore #43 on his jersey as a high school student and for his seven and a half seasons with the Celtics. At some point during that time, he had the number 43 tattooed on his shoulder. When he was traded to OKC he switched to #5 as 43 had been retired by the Sonics for Jack Sikma. This story makes everyone sad.
Thabo Sefolosha
Sefolosha’s two tattoos read “The Game Chose Me” and “God Guides My Steps.” In an NBA.com profile, he explained the designs: “Those are two things that are very important in my life: basketball and God.”
Players without tattoos:
Cole Aldrich
Nick Collison
James Harden
Lazar Hayward
Serge Ibaka
Reggie Jackson
Russell Westbrook
No longer on roster:
Ryan Reid: has tattoos on both arms.
Oklahoma City Thunder, 2011-12
Tattoo percentage: 53% (8 players with tattoos, 7 without)
It wasn’t that long ago that OKC had a reputation for having the fewest tattooed players in the league. But during the 2011 playoffs, Durant inadvertently revealed the density of tattoos on his stomach, which he followed up with a huge back piece during the offseason. Joined by new tattoos for Eric Maynor and Royal Ivey, the reputation seemed to flip, with OKC emerging as the sixth-most tattooed team in the league last year. With some off-season roster changes, things have relaxed a bit, with the Thunder now meeting the league average for tattoo percentage.
Players with tattoos:
Daequan Cook
Among Cook’s many (10+) tattoos are his daughter’s name and the words “Daddy’s Angel.”
Kevin Durant
During the summer of 2011, Durant had a huge tribute to his home state and his deceased coach tattooed on his back. The design has been referred to as a “business tattoo” since the entire design is hidden by his uniform. A recent interview with the tattoo artist, Randy Harris, revealed that Durant insisted that the tattoo be hidden in this way: “He went out of his way to tell me to not have the tattoos go out of his jersey because he does look at himself as a role model to kids.”
Derek Fisher
Fisher has a couple of Chinese characters tattooed on his right forearm that translate to “to be faithful in heart, mind, and spirit.”
Royal Ivey
Born and raised in New York, Ivey has a full back piece repping the city, with the statue of liberty, the twin towers, and the Queensboro bridge among other landmarks. In a Fanhouse video interview, he explained that “every one of my tattoos means something” and went on to explain the “eye of the beholder” design on his forearm: “you know, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ and that’s the man above so that’s why I put it.”
Eric Maynor
Maynor is the third Thunder player to have work done by Randy Harris of Tattoos by Randy. During the summer of 2011, he had his entire right arm filled in by Randy. DailyThunder.com did a great before and after comparison on their site.
Nazr Mohammed
Mohammed has his name tattooed on his left shoulder above a basketball passing through a hoop.
Kendrick Perkins
Perkins wore #43 on his jersey as a high school student and for his seven and a half seasons with the Celtics. At some point during that time, he had the number 43 tattooed on his shoulder. When he was traded to OKC he switched to #5 as 43 had been retired by the Sonics for Jack Sikma. This story makes everyone sad.
Thabo Sefolosha
Sefolosha’s two tattoos read “The Game Chose Me” and “God Guides My Steps.” In an NBA.com profile, he explained the designs: “Those are two things that are very important in my life: basketball and God.”
Players without tattoos:
Cole Aldrich
Nick Collison
James Harden
Lazar Hayward
Serge Ibaka
Reggie Jackson
Russell Westbrook
No longer on roster:
Ryan Reid: has tattoos on both arms.
