Miami Heat, 2012-13
Tattoo percentage: 60% (9 players with tattoos, 6 without)
The Heat’s tattoo percentage remained even with last year.
Players with tattoos:
Chris Andersen
Inked Magazine published an in-depth interview with Andersen about tattoos in 2011.
Chris Bosh
Bosh has an elaborate tattoo that covers his entire back.
Mario Chalmers
As reported by Fox Sports Florida, Chalmers got a tattoo reading “Mister Clutch” after being drafted by the Heat in 2008. According to the article, Chalmers worked with an artist recommended to him by teammate Udonis Haslem.
Udonis Haslem
Haslem has a great tattoo on the inside of his right arm reading “THE Under Dog.” The artist, Junk Roxxx, shared a photo of the newly-completed work on his website in 2010.
Juwan Howard
A 1996 Sports Illustrated profile reported that Howard has two tattoos: his grandmother’s name tattooed over his heart, and “Dr. J”, a tribute to his childhood idol Julius Erving, tattooed on his arm.
LeBron James
The website “nikelebron.net” has a highly detailed timeline of James’ tattoos, going back to his high school days.
James Jones
Jones recently added the text “Man of My Destiny” to the tattoo of a basketball on his left shoulder.
Rashard Lewis
In September of 2012, Miami’s Unfamous tattoo shop posted photos of Lewis getting three tattoos in one session by shop artist Alex Torres.
Mike Miller
Miller has a handful of tattoos, including a Celtic Tree of Life on his right shoulder, a onetime mystery unraveled by the great blog Son of Sam Bowie.
Players without tattoos:
Ray Allen
Joel Anthony
Shane Battier
Norris Cole
Jarvis Varnado
Dwayne Wade
Boston Celtics 2011-12
Tattoo percentage: 67% (10 players with tattoos/5 without)
The Celtics tattoo percentage remained the same as last year.
—
Players with tattoos:
Brandon Bass
Heavily tattooed on both arms.
Marquis Daniels
In 2009, Urban Ink magazine interviewed Daniels about his tattoos. He talks about the shotgun suicide one, and the one that reads “look through the eyes of a killer” but also talks about the one he got for his grandparents:
When I was younger, I used to have to read the Bible to my grandmother and grandfather all the time, and that was their favorite scripture. It was like, always remember the scripture. If youre down, and you want to pray or whatever, read the scripture. Thats why I got the tattoo on the side. Its my favorite verse also. You know, when times get hard, I feel like, through the pain, after all the efforts I put forward, that verse protects me from anything evil.
I appreciate that he is able to bring evil into that one too.
Keyon Dooling
According to NBA.com, the cross tattoo on Dooling’s shoulder is to remind him that he’s blessed.
Kevin Garnett
Among KG’s tattoos is the text: “Only God can Judge me. Rest in Peace MS2” on his forearm. The text is a tribute combining the initials and jersey number of his Timberwolves teammate Malik Sealy who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000. Former teammate Joe Smith has the same tribute tattooed on his arm.
E’Twaun Moore
Rookie Moore has a cross tattoo on his left shoulder.
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.”
Aleksander Pavlovic
Pavlovic has a bit of text tattooed on his arm and a tiger on his ankle.
Paul Pierce
In September 2000, just before Pierce’s third year as a pro, he was stabbed 11 times at a nightclub in Boston. Several years later, he had a basketball with a dagger through it tattooed on his arm. As described by Pierce to the website Vegas Deluxe, “It represents how close I came to losing my life. Basketball is my gift and my curse. Obviously there are all the good things that come from playing basketball, but you also have to deal with all the negative things that come with being a basketball player.”
Mickael Pietrus
Pietrus has a tribal-inspired armband circling his right bicep.
Rajon Rondo
Rondo has the double-R Rolls Royce logo tattooed on his back, which also references his initials.
Players without tattoos:
Ray Allen
Avery Bradley
Ryan Hollins
JaJuan Johnson
Greg Stiemsma
No longer on roster:
Chris Wilcox: Wilcox has a tattoo on his left shoulder.
Boston Celtics 2010-11
Tattoo percentage:66% (10 players with tattoos/5 without)
Despite some trade-deadline maneuvers that sent away heavily tattooed Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson for un-tattooed Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, the Celtics remain above the league average for tattooed players.
—
Players with tattoos:
Carlos Arroyo
Arroyo’s sole tattoo is his daughter’s name on his left forearm.
Glen Davis
In the beginning of 2010 Davis announced that he would abandon his “Big Baby” nickname, however he continues to keep his mother close to his heart with her portrait and the text “mama’s boy” tattooed on his chest.
Kevin Garnett
Among KG’s few tattoos is the following text on his forearm: “Only God can Judge me. Rest in Peace MS2.” The text is a tribute combining the initials and jersey number of his Timberwolves teammate Malik Sealy who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000. Former teammate (and current Laker) Joe Smith has the same tribute on his arm.
Jermaine O’Neal
Heavily tattooed. His “Year of the Resurrection” text, added in 1999 on his right shoulder, is a nice commemoration of Christian mythos and Y2K anxiety.
Shaquille O’Neal
In typical Shaq humor, O’Neal claimed in a 2009 article, “I have all these tattoos because my parents let me get them. I have to fax the designs to them beforehand.”
Aleksandar Pavlovic
One of the rare tattooed Euro players in the league, Pavlovic has text on his forearm and a tiger on his ankle.
Paul Pierce
In 2010 he got his nickname, “The Truth” tattooed on his forearm, garnished with a couple of clever references to the game: a clover for the Celtics and a pair of dice reading 3 and 4 (his jersey number is 34).
Rajon Rondo
Although it can’t be seen on the court, Rondo has the Rolls Royce logo inked on his back, a gentle reference to his initials.
Von Wafer
Has a few tattoos, including a cobweb on his elbow, representing his struggle.
Delonte West
Among his many tattoos (including a Christian religious narrative that starts on his neck and runs down his chest) is script along his ribs reads: “For those I love I sacrifice.” In an interview he elaborated, “I definitely sacrificed getting them on these ribs, I’ll tell you that.”
Players without tattoos:
Ray Allen
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Nenad Krstic
Troy Murphy
Miami Heat, 2012-13
Tattoo percentage: 60% (9 players with tattoos, 6 without)
The Heat’s tattoo percentage remained even with last year.
Players with tattoos:
Chris Andersen
Inked Magazine published an in-depth interview with Andersen about tattoos in 2011.
Chris Bosh
Bosh has an elaborate tattoo that covers his entire back.
Mario Chalmers
As reported by Fox Sports Florida, Chalmers got a tattoo reading “Mister Clutch” after being drafted by the Heat in 2008. According to the article, Chalmers worked with an artist recommended to him by teammate Udonis Haslem.
Udonis Haslem
Haslem has a great tattoo on the inside of his right arm reading “THE Under Dog.” The artist, Junk Roxxx, shared a photo of the newly-completed work on his website in 2010.
Juwan Howard
A 1996 Sports Illustrated profile reported that Howard has two tattoos: his grandmother’s name tattooed over his heart, and “Dr. J”, a tribute to his childhood idol Julius Erving, tattooed on his arm.
LeBron James
The website “nikelebron.net” has a highly detailed timeline of James’ tattoos, going back to his high school days.
James Jones
Jones recently added the text “Man of My Destiny” to the tattoo of a basketball on his left shoulder.
Rashard Lewis
In September of 2012, Miami’s Unfamous tattoo shop posted photos of Lewis getting three tattoos in one session by shop artist Alex Torres.
Mike Miller
Miller has a handful of tattoos, including a Celtic Tree of Life on his right shoulder, a onetime mystery unraveled by the great blog Son of Sam Bowie.
Players without tattoos:
Ray Allen
Joel Anthony
Shane Battier
Norris Cole
Jarvis Varnado
Dwayne Wade
Boston Celtics 2011-12
Tattoo percentage: 67% (10 players with tattoos/5 without)
The Celtics tattoo percentage remained the same as last year.
—
Players with tattoos:
Brandon Bass
Heavily tattooed on both arms.
Marquis Daniels
In 2009, Urban Ink magazine interviewed Daniels about his tattoos. He talks about the shotgun suicide one, and the one that reads “look through the eyes of a killer” but also talks about the one he got for his grandparents:
When I was younger, I used to have to read the Bible to my grandmother and grandfather all the time, and that was their favorite scripture. It was like, always remember the scripture. If youre down, and you want to pray or whatever, read the scripture. Thats why I got the tattoo on the side. Its my favorite verse also. You know, when times get hard, I feel like, through the pain, after all the efforts I put forward, that verse protects me from anything evil.
I appreciate that he is able to bring evil into that one too.
Keyon Dooling
According to NBA.com, the cross tattoo on Dooling’s shoulder is to remind him that he’s blessed.
Kevin Garnett
Among KG’s tattoos is the text: “Only God can Judge me. Rest in Peace MS2” on his forearm. The text is a tribute combining the initials and jersey number of his Timberwolves teammate Malik Sealy who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000. Former teammate Joe Smith has the same tribute tattooed on his arm.
E’Twaun Moore
Rookie Moore has a cross tattoo on his left shoulder.
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.”
Aleksander Pavlovic
Pavlovic has a bit of text tattooed on his arm and a tiger on his ankle.
Paul Pierce
In September 2000, just before Pierce’s third year as a pro, he was stabbed 11 times at a nightclub in Boston. Several years later, he had a basketball with a dagger through it tattooed on his arm. As described by Pierce to the website Vegas Deluxe, “It represents how close I came to losing my life. Basketball is my gift and my curse. Obviously there are all the good things that come from playing basketball, but you also have to deal with all the negative things that come with being a basketball player.”
Mickael Pietrus
Pietrus has a tribal-inspired armband circling his right bicep.
Rajon Rondo
Rondo has the double-R Rolls Royce logo tattooed on his back, which also references his initials.
Players without tattoos:
Ray Allen
Avery Bradley
Ryan Hollins
JaJuan Johnson
Greg Stiemsma
No longer on roster:
Chris Wilcox: Wilcox has a tattoo on his left shoulder.
Boston Celtics 2010-11
Tattoo percentage:66% (10 players with tattoos/5 without)
Despite some trade-deadline maneuvers that sent away heavily tattooed Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson for un-tattooed Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, the Celtics remain above the league average for tattooed players.
—
Players with tattoos:
Carlos Arroyo
Arroyo’s sole tattoo is his daughter’s name on his left forearm.
Glen Davis
In the beginning of 2010 Davis announced that he would abandon his “Big Baby” nickname, however he continues to keep his mother close to his heart with her portrait and the text “mama’s boy” tattooed on his chest.
Kevin Garnett
Among KG’s few tattoos is the following text on his forearm: “Only God can Judge me. Rest in Peace MS2.” The text is a tribute combining the initials and jersey number of his Timberwolves teammate Malik Sealy who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000. Former teammate (and current Laker) Joe Smith has the same tribute on his arm.
Jermaine O’Neal
Heavily tattooed. His “Year of the Resurrection” text, added in 1999 on his right shoulder, is a nice commemoration of Christian mythos and Y2K anxiety.
Shaquille O’Neal
In typical Shaq humor, O’Neal claimed in a 2009 article, “I have all these tattoos because my parents let me get them. I have to fax the designs to them beforehand.”
Aleksandar Pavlovic
One of the rare tattooed Euro players in the league, Pavlovic has text on his forearm and a tiger on his ankle.
Paul Pierce
In 2010 he got his nickname, “The Truth” tattooed on his forearm, garnished with a couple of clever references to the game: a clover for the Celtics and a pair of dice reading 3 and 4 (his jersey number is 34).
Rajon Rondo
Although it can’t be seen on the court, Rondo has the Rolls Royce logo inked on his back, a gentle reference to his initials.
Von Wafer
Has a few tattoos, including a cobweb on his elbow, representing his struggle.
Delonte West
Among his many tattoos (including a Christian religious narrative that starts on his neck and runs down his chest) is script along his ribs reads: “For those I love I sacrifice.” In an interview he elaborated, “I definitely sacrificed getting them on these ribs, I’ll tell you that.”
Players without tattoos:
Ray Allen
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Nenad Krstic
Troy Murphy
