Phoenix Suns, 2012-13
Tattoo percentage: 67% (10 players with tattoos, 5 without)
In the biggest single-year jump in the past three years, the Suns nearly doubled their tattoo percentage from last year.
Players with tattoos:
Michael Beasley
Among Beasley’s many tattoos is the word “H.O.O.D.” on his chest, an acronym for “Holding Our Own Destinies.”
Shannon Brown
In 2009, during Brown’s first season with the Lakers, Meghan Brennan asked the player about his tattoos for a Mouthpiecesports interview. Brown quickly ran down the tatooos on his right arm and hand, which include the word “Believe,” “Proverbs 3: 5-6” (although not the proverb text itself); his initials “SB,” and his mother’s name, “Sandra.”
Channing Frye
A 2013 profile in the Oregonian discusses the tattoo on Frye’s right forearm. It’s a pretty complicated narrative:
“His idyllic scene is etched on the inside of his right forearm, where his favorite tattoo depicts a mountain with several steps leading up to a rising sun. It is a place of esteem, for to reach the top, where the view is far-reaching and the sun rays stretch like exclamation points, one must overcome the steps of Doubt, Yourself, Fear, Hate, Lies and Envy, before reaching Happiness.”
Diante Garrett
While still at Iowa State, Garrett was interviewed about his tattoos by the Des Moines Register. He discusses all of his tattoos, including his parents’ names, the phrase “Carpe Diem,” and his first tattoo, a gift-wrapped basketball with the text “God’s Gift.”
Marcin Gortat
During his second season in the NBA, Gortat made it to the finals as a backup center for the Magic. On the magnified stage of the championship round, it came to the attention of his sponsor, Reebok, that Gortat had Nike’s Michael Jordan Jumpman logo tattooed on his ankle. They requested that he wear long socks to cover the rival logo, or efface it with makeup. Gortat refused: “I’ve heard from other people that even other players, if they don’t know my name, they know I’m the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo. I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.” Gortat is no longer sponsored by Reebok.
Hamed Haddadi
The NBA’s first Iranian player has a stylized dragon tattooed on his left shoulder.
Marcus Morris
Morris and his twin brother, Markieff Morris, share identical tattoo designs, including one that reads “FOE” which stands for Family Over Everything; one that reads “Death is a Promise”; and one that reads “Twin Towers.”
Markieff Morris
[see above]
Jermaine O’Neal
O’Neal’s right shoulder features a muscular figure surrounded by the text “Year of the Resurrection.” Asked about the tattoo in 2011, O’Neal couldn’t remember when or where he got it, stressing instead that the tattoo isn’t fixed to one year, but constantly refreshes: “It better be this year… I look at it like every year has been a resurrection year — being challenged, being knocked down and getting back up – but I’ve had a lot of trials and tribulations this year.”
P.J. Tucker
Tucker has tattoos on both arms.
Players without tattoos:
Goran Dragic
Jared Dudley
Wes Johnson
Kendall Marshall
Luis Scola
Phoenix Suns, 2011-12
Tattoo percentage: 38% (5 players with tattoos, 8 players without)
The Suns’ tattoo percentage is a touch higher than last year. Also, I no longer think Steve Nash has a maple leaf tattooed over his heart. A little embarrassed about that still.
Players with tattoos:
Shannon Brown
Brown has tattoos on both arms. Also his wife Monica has his name tattooed on her wrist.
Channing Frye
Frye has tattoos on both arms.
Marcin Gortat
During his second season in the NBA, Gortat made it to the finals as a backup center for the Magic. On the magnified stage of the championship round, it came to the attention of his sponsor, Reebok, that Gortat had Nike’s Michael Jordan Jumpman logo tattooed on his ankle. They requested that he wear long socks to cover the rival logo, or efface it with makeup. Gortat refused: “I’ve heard from other people that even other players, if they don’t know my name, they know I’m the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo. I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.” Gortat is no longer sponsored by Reebok.
Markieff Morris
Morris was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 13th pick in the 2011 NBA draft. His twin brother, Marcus Morris, was taken by Houston with the 14th pick. This is the first year these identical twins have played apart, after years together in youth leagues, high school, and three years with the Kansas Jayhawks. They even had the same major (American Studies) at college. The pair also share identical tattoo designs, including one that reads “FOE” which stands for Family Over Everything; one that reads “Death is a Promise”; and one that reads “Twin Towers.”
Sebastian Telfair
On Telfair’s back is tattooed the words “LUCKY ME,” a reference to the Jay Z song of the same name.
Players without tattoos:
Josh Childress
Jared Dudley
Grant Hill: Hill wouldn’t want any tattoos because he is a long-term thinker: “Ten, 15 years from now, I don’t want to look back and go, ‘What was I thinking?’”
Robin Lopez: In a 2009 Phoenix New Times article, Lopez explained that he doesn’t have any tattoos, but respects them: “I don’t have anything against it. It’s a unique way for people to express themselves. Being an artist myself, I can appreciate that.”
Steve Nash: A 2009 article quotes Nash as saying he’d “never had the urge to get one,” but elaborated that if he did get one, it would be “a tribal pattern on his arm, from shoulder to elbow.”
Ronnie Price
Michael Redd
Hakim Warrick
No longer on roster:
Garret Siler: no tattoos
Phoenix Suns, 2010-11
Tattoo percentage: 36% (5 players with tattoos, 9 without)
One of the teams with the fewest tattooed players, there isn’t much of a story to tell through the Suns designs. Except for Pietrus’ perplexing tattoo, which demands the question, “is it barbed wire?” and the requisite follow up, “why?” or “why not?” That feels right.
Also of note, Dan Majerle, who spent 8 of his 14 seasons playing for the Suns and is now an assistant coach for the team, has a lightning bolt tattooed on his ankle.
—
Players with tattoos:
Aaron Brooks
Brooks is a part of a small group of NBA players who came up together in Seattle—Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams—who are all heavily tattooed. While Jason Terry claims he was the first to rep their shared hometown in tattoo, Brooks has the most involved: on his left arm, the city’s area code, 206, overlays an outline of the space needle.
Channing Frye
Frye has tattoos on both arms.
Marcin Gortat
During his second season in the NBA, Gortat made it to the finals as a backup center for the Magic. On the magnified stage of the championship round, it came to the attention of his sponsor, Reebok, that Gortat had Nike’s Michael Jordan Jumpman logo tattooed on his ankle. They requested that he wear long socks to cover the rival logo, or efface it with makeup. Gortat refused: “I’ve heard from other people that even other players, if they don’t know my name, they know I’m the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo. I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.” Gortat is no longer sponsored by Reebok.
Steve Nash
This one is debatable. A 2009 article quotes Nash as saying he’d “never had the urge to get one,” but elaborated that if he did get one, it would be “a tribal pattern on his arm, from shoulder to elbow.” However, various recent message boards claim that Canadian Nash has a maple leaf tattooed over his heart, which honestly feels really likely to me.
Mickael Pietrus
I’ve seen the armband on Pietrus’ right arm described as looking like barbed wire, but I don’t see it.
Players without tattoos:
Vince Carter
Josh Childress
Zabian Dowdell
Jared Dudley
Grant Hill: Hill wouldn’t want any tattoos because he is a long-term thinker: “Ten, 15 years from now, I don’t want to look back and go, ‘What was I thinking?’”
Gani Lawal
Robin Lopez: In a 2009 Phoenix New Times article, Lopez explained that he doesn’t have any tattoos, but respects them: “I don’t have anything against it. It’s a unique way for people to express themselves. Being an artist myself, I can appreciate that.”
Garret Siler
Hakim Warrick
Phoenix Suns, 2012-13
Tattoo percentage: 67% (10 players with tattoos, 5 without)
In the biggest single-year jump in the past three years, the Suns nearly doubled their tattoo percentage from last year.
Players with tattoos:
Michael Beasley
Among Beasley’s many tattoos is the word “H.O.O.D.” on his chest, an acronym for “Holding Our Own Destinies.”
Shannon Brown
In 2009, during Brown’s first season with the Lakers, Meghan Brennan asked the player about his tattoos for a Mouthpiecesports interview. Brown quickly ran down the tatooos on his right arm and hand, which include the word “Believe,” “Proverbs 3: 5-6” (although not the proverb text itself); his initials “SB,” and his mother’s name, “Sandra.”
Channing Frye
A 2013 profile in the Oregonian discusses the tattoo on Frye’s right forearm. It’s a pretty complicated narrative:
“His idyllic scene is etched on the inside of his right forearm, where his favorite tattoo depicts a mountain with several steps leading up to a rising sun. It is a place of esteem, for to reach the top, where the view is far-reaching and the sun rays stretch like exclamation points, one must overcome the steps of Doubt, Yourself, Fear, Hate, Lies and Envy, before reaching Happiness.”
Diante Garrett
While still at Iowa State, Garrett was interviewed about his tattoos by the Des Moines Register. He discusses all of his tattoos, including his parents’ names, the phrase “Carpe Diem,” and his first tattoo, a gift-wrapped basketball with the text “God’s Gift.”
Marcin Gortat
During his second season in the NBA, Gortat made it to the finals as a backup center for the Magic. On the magnified stage of the championship round, it came to the attention of his sponsor, Reebok, that Gortat had Nike’s Michael Jordan Jumpman logo tattooed on his ankle. They requested that he wear long socks to cover the rival logo, or efface it with makeup. Gortat refused: “I’ve heard from other people that even other players, if they don’t know my name, they know I’m the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo. I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.” Gortat is no longer sponsored by Reebok.
Hamed Haddadi
The NBA’s first Iranian player has a stylized dragon tattooed on his left shoulder.
Marcus Morris
Morris and his twin brother, Markieff Morris, share identical tattoo designs, including one that reads “FOE” which stands for Family Over Everything; one that reads “Death is a Promise”; and one that reads “Twin Towers.”
Markieff Morris
[see above]
Jermaine O’Neal
O’Neal’s right shoulder features a muscular figure surrounded by the text “Year of the Resurrection.” Asked about the tattoo in 2011, O’Neal couldn’t remember when or where he got it, stressing instead that the tattoo isn’t fixed to one year, but constantly refreshes: “It better be this year… I look at it like every year has been a resurrection year — being challenged, being knocked down and getting back up – but I’ve had a lot of trials and tribulations this year.”
P.J. Tucker
Tucker has tattoos on both arms.
Players without tattoos:
Goran Dragic
Jared Dudley
Wes Johnson
Kendall Marshall
Luis Scola
Phoenix Suns, 2011-12
Tattoo percentage: 38% (5 players with tattoos, 8 players without)
The Suns’ tattoo percentage is a touch higher than last year. Also, I no longer think Steve Nash has a maple leaf tattooed over his heart. A little embarrassed about that still.
Players with tattoos:
Shannon Brown
Brown has tattoos on both arms. Also his wife Monica has his name tattooed on her wrist.
Channing Frye
Frye has tattoos on both arms.
Marcin Gortat
During his second season in the NBA, Gortat made it to the finals as a backup center for the Magic. On the magnified stage of the championship round, it came to the attention of his sponsor, Reebok, that Gortat had Nike’s Michael Jordan Jumpman logo tattooed on his ankle. They requested that he wear long socks to cover the rival logo, or efface it with makeup. Gortat refused: “I’ve heard from other people that even other players, if they don’t know my name, they know I’m the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo. I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.” Gortat is no longer sponsored by Reebok.
Markieff Morris
Morris was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 13th pick in the 2011 NBA draft. His twin brother, Marcus Morris, was taken by Houston with the 14th pick. This is the first year these identical twins have played apart, after years together in youth leagues, high school, and three years with the Kansas Jayhawks. They even had the same major (American Studies) at college. The pair also share identical tattoo designs, including one that reads “FOE” which stands for Family Over Everything; one that reads “Death is a Promise”; and one that reads “Twin Towers.”
Sebastian Telfair
On Telfair’s back is tattooed the words “LUCKY ME,” a reference to the Jay Z song of the same name.
Players without tattoos:
Josh Childress
Jared Dudley
Grant Hill: Hill wouldn’t want any tattoos because he is a long-term thinker: “Ten, 15 years from now, I don’t want to look back and go, ‘What was I thinking?’”
Robin Lopez: In a 2009 Phoenix New Times article, Lopez explained that he doesn’t have any tattoos, but respects them: “I don’t have anything against it. It’s a unique way for people to express themselves. Being an artist myself, I can appreciate that.”
Steve Nash: A 2009 article quotes Nash as saying he’d “never had the urge to get one,” but elaborated that if he did get one, it would be “a tribal pattern on his arm, from shoulder to elbow.”
Ronnie Price
Michael Redd
Hakim Warrick
No longer on roster:
Garret Siler: no tattoos
Phoenix Suns, 2010-11
Tattoo percentage: 36% (5 players with tattoos, 9 without)
One of the teams with the fewest tattooed players, there isn’t much of a story to tell through the Suns designs. Except for Pietrus’ perplexing tattoo, which demands the question, “is it barbed wire?” and the requisite follow up, “why?” or “why not?” That feels right.
Also of note, Dan Majerle, who spent 8 of his 14 seasons playing for the Suns and is now an assistant coach for the team, has a lightning bolt tattooed on his ankle.
—
Players with tattoos:
Aaron Brooks
Brooks is a part of a small group of NBA players who came up together in Seattle—Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams—who are all heavily tattooed. While Jason Terry claims he was the first to rep their shared hometown in tattoo, Brooks has the most involved: on his left arm, the city’s area code, 206, overlays an outline of the space needle.
Channing Frye
Frye has tattoos on both arms.
Marcin Gortat
During his second season in the NBA, Gortat made it to the finals as a backup center for the Magic. On the magnified stage of the championship round, it came to the attention of his sponsor, Reebok, that Gortat had Nike’s Michael Jordan Jumpman logo tattooed on his ankle. They requested that he wear long socks to cover the rival logo, or efface it with makeup. Gortat refused: “I’ve heard from other people that even other players, if they don’t know my name, they know I’m the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo. I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.” Gortat is no longer sponsored by Reebok.
Steve Nash
This one is debatable. A 2009 article quotes Nash as saying he’d “never had the urge to get one,” but elaborated that if he did get one, it would be “a tribal pattern on his arm, from shoulder to elbow.” However, various recent message boards claim that Canadian Nash has a maple leaf tattooed over his heart, which honestly feels really likely to me.
Mickael Pietrus
I’ve seen the armband on Pietrus’ right arm described as looking like barbed wire, but I don’t see it.
Players without tattoos:
Vince Carter
Josh Childress
Zabian Dowdell
Jared Dudley
Grant Hill: Hill wouldn’t want any tattoos because he is a long-term thinker: “Ten, 15 years from now, I don’t want to look back and go, ‘What was I thinking?’”
Gani Lawal
Robin Lopez: In a 2009 Phoenix New Times article, Lopez explained that he doesn’t have any tattoos, but respects them: “I don’t have anything against it. It’s a unique way for people to express themselves. Being an artist myself, I can appreciate that.”
Garret Siler
Hakim Warrick
