Since ancient times, the art of tattooing has been practiced by humans. Tattoos are more than just an art form, as they have some deep meanings behind them. We seen many people around us with different tattoos, as well as in the sports world, where athletes get tattoos for a variety of reasons, including maintaining a sense of belonging, feeling powerful, and sometimes out of respect for God. NBA players, who are the center among all athletes, cover their bodies with flashy tattoos, and because they wear tank tops and shorts, their fans get to see them a lot on their bodies. In this article, we will tell you about the tattoos of various NBA players and the meaning behind them.
LeBron James
One of the most popular players in the NBA, LeBron James, has covered his entire body with a lot of tattoos. He is one of the best basketball players in NBA history and is often compared to Michael Jordan. James is nicknamed “King James “and he is the only basketball player to have won an NBA championship with three franchises.
The American player has won four NBA championships, four NBA finals MVP awards , and two Olympic gold medals. If we talk about his tattoos, then he has 24 of them. His tattoo “CHOSEN1” is one of his attractive tattoos and is inked on his upper back. James was introduced as the Chosen One on February 18, 2002.
He has a tattoo of a crowned lion on his right biceps, and on the top of his lion head tattoo, James also has “Gloria James” inked in honor of his mother. After a successful 2006 playoff season, he also tattooed “WITNESS” on his right shin. James has 33o tattooed on his right arm, which references the area code of his hometown, Akron, Ohio.
He also has a tattoo of “what we do in life” on his right arm, which means that whatever we do, the consequences of such actions have long-term effects. The king tattooed “No one can see through what I am except the one who made me” inside of his right forearm.
LeBron also has a tattoo of the beast on his left bicep, and around it there are several stars, below it is a tattoo of “Hold My Own” and Prince James on the inside of his forearm. Family is inked on the right side of his stomach, Bryce Maximus is inked on his right forearm, which is the name of his second son and apart from this, he has L and J tattoos on his left and right triceps. The left side of James’ abdomen has Loyalty inscribed, and his left shoulder has 1984 inked, which is his date of birth. The right arm has “Flames” inked, and he also has a snake (Black Mamba) inked on his thigh, which shows his tribute to the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant
The late Kobe Bryant, who was regarded as the greatest basketball player in history, was born in Philadelphia. He won five NBA championships and became the most Valuable player in the NBA in 2008. Sadly, Kobe and his daughter were killed in a helicopter crash in California on January 26, 2020. Like many famous NBA players, Kobe also had a few tattoos inked on his body. Most of his tattoos were for the most precious people in his life.
He got his wife’s name, Vanessa, tattooed on his right arm. Kobe got this tattoo when he was accused of sexual assault in 2003 and said to his wife, “You are my backbone, my blessing, and a piece of my heart. You are the strongest person I know, and I’m sorry you had to go through this and our family had to go through this.” Bryant also has inked angel wings just below his wife’s tattoo on his right arm. He inscribed “Psalm XXVII” to express his religious faith. The black Mamba also had a Butterfly crown, a symbol of respect, emotion, strength, and sensibility, inked, and the legend also got a tattoo of his daughter’s name on his right arm.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal, popularly known as Shaq and considered one of the best centers of all time, won three consecutive championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during his career. The veteran earned NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP awards in the year 2000. The former’s body is covered with many attractive tattoos. He has the words “Against the Law” inscribed on his right shoulder, which is surrounded by a flame design. O’Neal also has the logo of his nickname, “Superman” inked on his right arm. He has “The World in Mine” written under his Superman logo. This tattoo is the motivator that inspired him to achieve his goal. An interesting fact about his tattoos is that Shaq got his mother’s permission before getting them. He also has the word “BIG” on the inside of his right sleeve, indicating his massive size. He has a ring tattoo with the letter DOG inside it; this tattoo refers to Big Dog, which he often calls himself.
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