12 NBA Players With the Most Tattoos

These tattooed NBA stars use body art to share personal stories, faith, and passion, turning their body into living canvases of inspiration.

Rajat Srivastava
October 20, 2025
5 min read

12 NBA Players With the Most Tattoos — Imagn Images

Tattoos have become an integral part of NBA culture which often reflect personal stories, struggles and triumphs. Iconic legends like LeBron James and Allen Iverson to expressive stars like Jordan Clarkson and Ja Morant use tattoos to tell a part of their journey. These athletes wear their lives on their bodies honoring family, faith and resilience and show that body art in basketball is more than style.

12. Ja Morant

Ja Morant’s tattoos showcase his confident nature, faith and family connections. They give tributes to his parents and also contain motivational phrases like “Beneath No One”. His ink tells a story of ambition and gratitude. Each tattoo is a symbol of his rise from a small-town athlete to the journey of becoming a NBA superstar. Morant’s tattoos not only remind him to stay grounded and hungry but also capture his relentless mindset and emotional connection.

11. Iman Shumpert

Iman Shumpert’s tattoos reflect his creativity and individuality. His ink included tributes to his family, motivational words and contains some artistic symbols which show both confidence and humility. He is popular for his fashion sense and unique style and uses tattoos to express his artistic side. They highlight the key values such as loyalty, self-expression and passion and also blend perfectly with his personality as both an entertainer and athlete.

10. Wilson Chandler

Wilson Chandler is also known for his considerable and artistic tattoos which cover nearly his entire body. Most of them carry a personal meaning like tributes to family, strength and self-belief. There is also a mix of scripture, portraits, and artistic imagery which make him one of the league’s most inked players. Chandler once quoted that tattoos help him “wear his story.” Each design symbolizes milestones, struggles and accomplishments of his journey in life and basketball.

9. Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson’s tattoos are a composition of spirituality, cultural pride and motivational quotes. They reflect his Filipino-American heritage, personal growth and his belief in self discipline. Each design reflects a story about confidence and self identity. Clarkson’s expressive ink and evolving style highlight his creative personality both on and off the court. They stand as symbols of empowerment and individuality.

8. DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan’s tattoos celebrate his life’s journey. They reveal the events from growing up in Compton to becoming an NBA star. The designs feature tributes to his family, faith and neighborhood and reminds him of his roots. The words “Compton Made Me” and portraits of loved ones show his loyalty and gratitude towards the loved ones and family members. DeRozan considers the tattoos as emotional support system which remind him of where he came from and whom he plays for.

7. Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis’s tattoos reflect his personal growth and gratitude. His “Family First” and “Faith” pieces show his deep compassion and love for those who are closest to him. The other tattoos showcase his Mississippi upbringing and struggles and battles on the way to NBA success. Ellis’s tattoos capture his grounded nature which is a mix of humility, toughness and personal values that showed his approach to life and basketball.

6. Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard’s tattoos are based on his roots, faith and family pride. He deeply honors his hometown of Oakland and features motivational phrases like “La Familia". Each design symbolizes loyalty and resilience. Lillard’s body art reflects his personality which is humble yet fierce and grounded in faith but hungry for success. His tattoos serve as both reminders of his beginnings and his journey to stardom.

5. Chris Andersen

Chris Andersen’s tattoos made him one of the NBA’s most recognized players. His colorful full body art consists of flames, skulls, and wings which symbolize rebirth and individuality. Andersen once said that his tattoos expressed his “freedom to fly”. The tattoos became an integral part of his identity which led to being a cult icon. The designs reflected his wild energy, comeback from suspension and fearless embrace of uniqueness.

4. J.R. Smith

Smith’s heavily tattooed body conveys a visual representation of art, faith and motivation. Each design carries meaning and they vary from various portraits to inspirational quotes. His “Young Money” and “Through the Fire” tattoos represent his confidence and toughness. JR’s tattoos aren’t just random and they mirror his fiery personality. They capture the balance between chaos and creativity which defined his career.

3. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant’s tattoos are very personal and many of them are hidden under his jersey. They include tributes to his mother, faith, and hometown which symbolizes gratitude and humility. His back features religious imagery and has inspirational words which remind him of his origins. Despite being quiet natured, Durant’s ink speaks volumes about his values, spirituality and deep recognition and appreciation for the people who shaped his life.

2. Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson made tattoos mainstream in the NBA. His ink is a symbolic representation of resilience, struggle and self-expression and has phrases like “Only the Strong Survive.” Each tattoo reflects his journey from hardship to superstardom, embodying his fearless personality both on and off the court. Iverson’s body art became a cultural statement, representing realism and individuality in an era that once resisted such strong self-expression.

1. LeBron James

LeBron’s tattoos tell his life story. From “Chosen 1” across his back to tributes for his family and faith, each piece represents various milestones in his journey from his hometown in Akron to NBA greatness. His ink mixes personal motivation and is a constant reminder of loyalty and legacy showing that his body art is more than just a mere decoration.