New York Knicks 2011-12
Tattoo percentage:67% (10 players with tattoos, 5 without)
Last year the Knicks tied with the Lakers for the team with the most tattooed players. There isn’t anything really to be read into the numbers, or the decline—both rookies have tattoos, and their key free agency pickup (Tyson Chandler) has some of the most distinctive designs in the league. A lot of good stories in this collection of tattoos…
Players with tattoos:
Carmelo Anthony
Anthony’s tattoos pretty much speak for themselves—flaming basketballs, West Baltimore, the Puerto Rican flag—so he doesn’t speak to them that often. When he does, it’s pretty funny, as in this interview with Complex:
Complex: Who’s your tattoo artist?
Carmelo: I go to a guy out of Atlanta. I don’t like to get stuck by too many people’s needles. One guy. I did most of them by myself, though.
Complex: Most of the tattoos? You serious?
Carmelo: No. [Laughs]
Mike Bibby
Bibby’s website features a detailed rundown of all of his tattoos.
Tyson Chandler
One of the storylines of the Mavericks’ 2011 championship was Chandler’s maturation. In the offseason, this development manifested itself in his tattoos. He’s in the process of having his first tattoo—a flaming basketball with his name under it—removed. His newest work is a portrait of his son, which is not only one of my favorite designs in recent memory, but also furthers this idea of turning away from self-involvement (tattoo of his name) to the world around him (tattoo of family).
There’s also some evidence in his tattoos that he’s more self-possessed and able to stand on his own. Last March I pointed out that he has an almost-identical tattoo to Allen Iverson. These days he’s filled the design out and added a bunch of work around it, making it his own.
Baron Davis
While the design is a mystery, Davis does have a back tattoo that peeks out of the left side of his uni occasionally.
Josh Harrellson
Although it’s mostly hidden by his jersey, Harrellson has a tattoo of a cross in memory of his grandfather. The Lexington Herald-Ledger article that shares that info also mentions that Jorts “visits children’s hospitals and homeless shelters. He regularly goes to the Humane Society to play with the dogs. ‘I don’t think they get enough love and affection up there,’ he said.”
Jared Jeffries
If you haven’t already, please read this. Jeffries has a crowned basketball tattooed on his left arm.
Iman Shumpert
According to a NY Post profile, Shumpert has “about 15” tattoos.
J.R. Smith
Smith is one of the most heavily tattooed players in the league. This profile from Dime Magazine which covers both his Yankees-flipping “Young Money” neck tattoo and his “married to the game” ring finger NBA tattoo (which includes “I Do” in script) best covers the spectrum of his work.
Amar’e Stoudemire
If I didn’t do this blog I would do a blog that charts out all of the NBA references in Brick Squad songs. “You know Flocka shoot first like John Starks” being my favorite. This French Montana song about Amar’e Stoudemire is pretty likable, even if it’s a little direct. Also, I’m skeptical of the edit but I like thinking that STAT still has a kickflip. Anyway, there’s a visit to the tattoo parlor in the video which is why I’ve included it here. If you are interested in a rundown of all of Stoudemire’s tattoos, I recommend The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac.
Bill Walker
During his rookie year, Walker had the number “1023” tattooed on his neck. The significance, as explained to the Providence Journal, was “to remind myself to never forget where I came from.” Walker grew up at 1023 Minton Street, in Huntington, West Virginia.
Players without tattoos:
Toney Douglas
Landry Fields
Jerome Jordan
Jeremy Lin
Steve Novak
No longer on roster:
Renaldo Balkman:Balkman has “HUSTLE” and “HARDER” tattooed on his calves and on his eyelids.
Cleveland Cavaliers, 2010-11
Tattoo percentage: 40% (6 players with tattoos, 9 without)
The Cavs have a below-average number of tattooed players and a dearth of interesting tattoos.
—
Players with tattoos:
Baron Davis
Although its design is unknown, Davis does have a tattoo that peeks out of the side of his jersey occasionally.
Alonzo Gee
Self-described momma’s boy Gee has an intense line of scripture tattooed on his right shoulder: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17).
Daniel Gibson
Gibson’s many tattoos earned him the cover of Urban Ink (alongside his lady Keyshia Cole).
Manny Harris
Harris has tattoos on both arms, including “a shoulder tattoo of a wolf’s head with the inscription ‘Kill or be killed,’” according to a profile of the tattoo artist.
J.J. Hickson
Hickson’s tattoos run up both arms and across his chest.
Antawn Jamison
On Jamison’s left shoulder is tattooed a scene where an angel stands beneath a cross, a tribute to his grandmother who died when he was in high school. “Ever since she passed, she’s been my angel,” Jamison explained in a 2008 Washington Post article. “As a kid, I thought she was the only person that actually believed I could be an NBA player.”
Players without tattoos:
Semih Erden
Christian Eyenga
Joey Graham
Luke Harangody
Ryan Hollins
Anthony Parker
Samardo Samuels
Ramon Sessions
Anderson Varejao
New York Knicks 2011-12
Tattoo percentage:67% (10 players with tattoos, 5 without)
Last year the Knicks tied with the Lakers for the team with the most tattooed players. There isn’t anything really to be read into the numbers, or the decline—both rookies have tattoos, and their key free agency pickup (Tyson Chandler) has some of the most distinctive designs in the league. A lot of good stories in this collection of tattoos…
Players with tattoos:
Carmelo Anthony
Anthony’s tattoos pretty much speak for themselves—flaming basketballs, West Baltimore, the Puerto Rican flag—so he doesn’t speak to them that often. When he does, it’s pretty funny, as in this interview with Complex:
Complex: Who’s your tattoo artist?
Carmelo: I go to a guy out of Atlanta. I don’t like to get stuck by too many people’s needles. One guy. I did most of them by myself, though.Complex: Most of the tattoos? You serious?
Carmelo: No. [Laughs]
Mike Bibby
Bibby’s website features a detailed rundown of all of his tattoos.
Tyson Chandler
One of the storylines of the Mavericks’ 2011 championship was Chandler’s maturation. In the offseason, this development manifested itself in his tattoos. He’s in the process of having his first tattoo—a flaming basketball with his name under it—removed. His newest work is a portrait of his son, which is not only one of my favorite designs in recent memory, but also furthers this idea of turning away from self-involvement (tattoo of his name) to the world around him (tattoo of family).
There’s also some evidence in his tattoos that he’s more self-possessed and able to stand on his own. Last March I pointed out that he has an almost-identical tattoo to Allen Iverson. These days he’s filled the design out and added a bunch of work around it, making it his own.
Baron Davis
While the design is a mystery, Davis does have a back tattoo that peeks out of the left side of his uni occasionally.
Josh Harrellson
Although it’s mostly hidden by his jersey, Harrellson has a tattoo of a cross in memory of his grandfather. The Lexington Herald-Ledger article that shares that info also mentions that Jorts “visits children’s hospitals and homeless shelters. He regularly goes to the Humane Society to play with the dogs. ‘I don’t think they get enough love and affection up there,’ he said.”
Jared Jeffries
If you haven’t already, please read this. Jeffries has a crowned basketball tattooed on his left arm.
Iman Shumpert
According to a NY Post profile, Shumpert has “about 15” tattoos.
J.R. Smith
Smith is one of the most heavily tattooed players in the league. This profile from Dime Magazine which covers both his Yankees-flipping “Young Money” neck tattoo and his “married to the game” ring finger NBA tattoo (which includes “I Do” in script) best covers the spectrum of his work.
Amar’e Stoudemire
If I didn’t do this blog I would do a blog that charts out all of the NBA references in Brick Squad songs. “You know Flocka shoot first like John Starks” being my favorite. This French Montana song about Amar’e Stoudemire is pretty likable, even if it’s a little direct. Also, I’m skeptical of the edit but I like thinking that STAT still has a kickflip. Anyway, there’s a visit to the tattoo parlor in the video which is why I’ve included it here. If you are interested in a rundown of all of Stoudemire’s tattoos, I recommend The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac.
Bill Walker
During his rookie year, Walker had the number “1023” tattooed on his neck. The significance, as explained to the Providence Journal, was “to remind myself to never forget where I came from.” Walker grew up at 1023 Minton Street, in Huntington, West Virginia.
Players without tattoos:
Toney Douglas
Landry Fields
Jerome Jordan
Jeremy Lin
Steve Novak
No longer on roster:
Renaldo Balkman:Balkman has “HUSTLE” and “HARDER” tattooed on his calves and on his eyelids.
Cleveland Cavaliers, 2010-11
Tattoo percentage: 40% (6 players with tattoos, 9 without)
The Cavs have a below-average number of tattooed players and a dearth of interesting tattoos.
—
Players with tattoos:
Baron Davis
Although its design is unknown, Davis does have a tattoo that peeks out of the side of his jersey occasionally.
Alonzo Gee
Self-described momma’s boy Gee has an intense line of scripture tattooed on his right shoulder: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17).
Daniel Gibson
Gibson’s many tattoos earned him the cover of Urban Ink (alongside his lady Keyshia Cole).
Manny Harris
Harris has tattoos on both arms, including “a shoulder tattoo of a wolf’s head with the inscription ‘Kill or be killed,’” according to a profile of the tattoo artist.
J.J. Hickson
Hickson’s tattoos run up both arms and across his chest.
Antawn Jamison
On Jamison’s left shoulder is tattooed a scene where an angel stands beneath a cross, a tribute to his grandmother who died when he was in high school. “Ever since she passed, she’s been my angel,” Jamison explained in a 2008 Washington Post article. “As a kid, I thought she was the only person that actually believed I could be an NBA player.”
Players without tattoos:
Semih Erden
Christian Eyenga
Joey Graham
Luke Harangody
Ryan Hollins
Anthony Parker
Samardo Samuels
Ramon Sessions
Anderson Varejao
