One Tattoo Idea for Each NBA Team's Best Player

The NBA and the players that populate the rosters of all 30 teams seem to be totally committed to getting tattoos in order to express their ideas from the past, their thoughts on the future, symbolic desires or completely overt desires for their basketball career.

Jason Terry was the best example of this last season, when he took a chance before the season started and got a tattoo of the Larry O'Brien Trophy, showing his desire for a title and creating the chance for complete humiliation, should he go through his career ringless.

Terry was lucky, however, and the Mavericks ended up winning a title at the end of the 2011 season, making him look like dedicated baller and an interesting gambler.

So, in the spirit of inking the best players in the league, I've decided to give out tattoo ideas for each NBA team's best player.

Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith, a Halo on One Shoulder, Devil Horns on the Other

Josh Smith has become the best player for the Atlanta Hawks, especially now with the downturn of Joe Johnson and the injury to Al Horford.

However, there is a big problem with Smith: He's the type of player who will do three very good things for his team and then a devastatingly bad thing in return. It's this "two steps forward, one step back" style of play that drives Hawks fans crazy.

A halo on one shoulder and devil horns on the other would symbolize his constant struggle between good and evil basketball.

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo, a Bentley "B"

Rajon Rondo already has one luxury car logo tattooed across his back, with the Rolls Royce "RR" taking up most of his back—this because his initials happen to be the same as that of the luxury car company.

I'm thinking he should add another luxury car logo to the repertoire, this one dedicated to the team that he plays for and the city that loves him, but is also frustrated by him at the same time.

The Bentley flying "B" done in all green and white would look pretty damn snazzy on Rondo.

Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, the Brooklyn Dodgers "B" but in Henna

Deron Williams needs to do something to endear himself to the new fans in Brooklyn, even if he doesn't plan on staying with the Nets. After all, if he goes out looking for a new team in free agency and something goes wrong then he may have to come back to Brooklyn with his tail tucked between his legs.

With a Brooklyn Dodgers "B" tattoo, he'll show that he's dedicated to the new city, but in order to keep from making the mistake of imprinting himself with an emblem for life, he needs to go ahead and just get a henna tattoo for now—that way it'll be faded away by the time he decides to go somewhere else.

Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jumpman Logo

Yeah, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist hasn't even been drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats yet, and they could very well do something insane, like not draft him, but even at this point when it's more or less accepted that they should take him No. 2 overall, MKG is already in competition for the title of Charlotte's best basketball player.

MKG, with a Jumpman logo tattoo could initially endear himself to his new owner, but beyond that it would be a goal to work toward: A constant reminder about what can be achieved with greatness in this league.

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Stitches on the Knee

Derrick Rose is one of the most competitive, serious players in the NBA. That's why a constant reminder of the fickleness of this game could push him even further in his hopes for an NBA title.

Rose went down with a torn ACL in the first game of the playoffs this year, and with the team the Bulls had put together (looking like the best team in the Eastern Conference) it's entirely possible that a shot at the title was lost, as well as what looks to be nearly a year of his career.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, "Cleveland's Rock"

It may sound cheesy, but a few words that would be an homage to the city that he's now playing in, the city that has come to love him over the past year, would be pretty darn cool.

The phrase "Cleveland Rocks" has been sung in jest over the years ever since Drew Carey made the city cool for a minute, but when you look at the stability and renewed faith that Irving has brought with him to Cleveland, he seems to be the rock that this city needs, so why not just move that "S" over one word.

Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki, Blue Flamingo

It's time for Dirk Nowitzki to go ahead and embrace the one-legged shot that has made him as popular, as famous and as effective as he has been in his later years.

Whenever Dirk rears back for that unparalleled off-balance, fade-away one-footer it's a thing of beauty, and he might as well get a tattoo to give into the animal that he's imitated for years.

A blue flamingo would not only give a constant reminder of the team that he won his title with, but also of that shot which is so unique and perfected. 

Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson, Fire Coming out of His Shoes

Ty Lawson is a rather tattoo-covered man as it is, so adding more ink to the Nuggets' speedster isn't going to be an easy task.

However, we can move away from his heavily-covered upper body and go ahead and add some ink to a less densely inked portion of his body.

What would be a pretty damn cool tattoo on Lawson would be flames shooting out of the tops of his shoes, or rather, from the top of wherever his socks end—referencing his incredible speed.

Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe, "'04"

The Pistons center is in for a long, difficult time in Detroit if he plans on staying there for the long haul with the desire to make this team great again.

That's why getting '04 tattooed somewhere on his body (the year that the Pistons last won the title) would be a constant reminder of his goal and the former greatness of his team.

Not only would it endear himself to the city for recognizing their past, but it would also show his dedication to their future.

Golden State Warriors: Andrew Bogut, Brick Wall at the End of the Golden Gate

For the Golden State Warriors, Andrew Bogut represents their quest for something different. For years now they've been the fast-paced, high-scoring team who is fun to watch, but never really a postseason threat.

By bringing in Andrew Bogut, they told the league that they were taking a risk and focusing on their defense—something that should flatter Bogut.

To symbolize what he is for this team (the last line of defense and hope for the future), a tattoo of a brick wall at the end of the Golden Gate Bridge would be the perfect symbolism.

Houston Rockets: Kevin Martin, a Lion's Head

Kevin Martin is a very noticeably untattooed man, so maybe he's just waiting for the right tattoo to get the ball rolling.

For Martin I'm suggesting a lion tattoo for a few reasons.

First of all, his hometown of Zanesville, Ohio is now famous for the horde of wild animals that was set loose last year, with a big roaring lion leading the way. 

Second, it is a nod to the way he plays the game on the offensive end of the ball—constantly on the prowl, always trying to attack the basket and kill the other team.

Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger, His Number, "33"

Danny Granger's number "33" has more meaning than just a number in the city that he's currently playing in.

That number 33 also happens to be the number that Larry Bird, the team's president and living legend in the state of both Indiana and Massachusetts, wore in his days in basketball, both with the Celtics and Indiana State.

Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul, the Word "Papa"

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are the lone tattoo-less members of the Los Angeles Clippers, and as the leaders of the team, maybe it's time for them to join the rest of their squad.

Whenever I see Chris Paul, I always think of him as a father in more way than one. He always seems to have his son with him whenever there's a press conference, and when it comes to the Clippers, he's more or less the father of this team.

The words "Papa" do more to describe him than any other words could.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant, the Number "7"

For Kobe Bryant, the number seven is a goal—a reminder and a constant struggle to be revered as one of the best players of all-time.

Seven championships would give him more titles than Michael Jordan—the man he's been compared to for the entirety of his career.

Plus, it would never hurt to have a reminder with the number seven, which happens to be one more than LeBron James' jersey number, another man he's been compared to quite a bit in his career.

Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay, a "Mute" Symbol

Last year, during the lockout at some point, Rudy Gay got a tattoo that more or less spoke for itself. His new tattoo read "Me Against the World" and was emblazoned across his biceps stretched across both arms.

This is an obvious swing at the heat he took after the Grizzlies played so well in the playoffs without him last season, leading to rumors of the team looking to trade him.

I'm suggesting an addition to this tattoo, this time a simple mute symbol to express the fact that he doesn't hear the noise around him, and is instead focused just on playing basketball.

Miami Heat: LeBron James, White Whale

It's not a tattoo that would be as obvious and upfront as Jason Terry's tattoo of the O'Brien Trophy, but it would be a symbol of what he's chasing, nonetheless.

The White Whale symbolizes the quest for something more, whatever that may be depends on the person, and for LeBron James that would symbolize, of course, a championship.

Milwaukee Bucks: Monta Ellis, a Buck Guarding the Tree on His Chest

For those of you who don't know, Monta Ellis has a rather sizable tattoo collection covering his body, which culminates with a family tree on his stomach and chest.

Ellis already has the Golden State logo with the Golden Gate Bridge inside a circle on his back, so getting another team tattoo shouldn't be a problem.

This time it would be cool to get a huge stag patrolling behind the family tree on his stomach, protecting and guarding the big tree.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love, Tribal Armband

Kevin Love, in all his average-looking white dude glory, needs to totally embrace the average-looking whiteness that he is made of.

Just like every other big, youngish white dude in America, Love needs to go out and grab either a generic tribal armband tattoo or a random Chinese symbol, which would endear him to all the average white dudes in the country and automatically give him a permanent fanbase.

New Orleans Hornets: Eric Gordon, Connect His Eyebrows

Eric Gordon should throw all style and coolness out the window and do something to welcome Anthony Davis to town in a show of their union to take New Orleans into the future.

I'm talking, of course, about Eric Gordon getting a unibrow tattoo by simply connecting his two eyebrows.

This constantly visible connection between the two would give them a bodily connection and probably start one of the strangest fashion trends in the history of the NBA.

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony, a Six Pack

Carmelo Anthony always seems to get a lot of flack for looking out of shape and, to be quite honest, a bit tubby.

He's a stark contrast to the chiseled specimens that are Dwyane Wade and LeBron James—two guys that he's constantly compared to ever since the 2003 NBA Draft.

As a joke to his critics, a tattoo that makes it seem as if he's got a six pack would be damn funny, at the very least. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, "People's Champ"

Kevin Durant doesn't really seem to be a boastful dude, but why not take a subtle shot at LeBron James every now and then, and why not do it in ink?

LeBron has the famous "Chosen 1" tattoo across his back in huge letters, in part because of this magazine cover from his high school days, but it's been criticized as a boastful impulse of his youth.

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant has grown to become one of the most revered players in the NBA by friend and foe alike, and as one of the most popular players in the NBA, a "People's Champ" tattoo would not only ring true, but probably be pretty cool.

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard, Troll Face

Is it just me, or should what Dwight Howard did this past year be considered the biggest troll in NBA history?

Howard was well aware of how much the people have grown tired of hearing trade rumors about himself, and if he was unaware, then he's the single most uninformed man in the NBA. Anyway, when it finally seemed as if these rumors were going to end and he was going to either get traded or become a free agent, he singlehandedly made sure they continued by exercising his option and coming back for one more year.

Put that troll face somewhere visible and wear it proudly Dwight—you got us all.

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala, Giving Hands

Basically what I've got in mind here is something that looks like this, only without the disembodied heart sitting in the hands.

Andre Iguodala has played basketball more or less the way anybody would want their star player to play it. He has given everything to his teammates, even sacrificing shots, points, and therefore the possibility for more money for the sake of the improvement of his teammates and the good of the team.

Iggy seems to sacrifice everything for his team—which is more than you can say for most players in the NBA.

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, Canadian Flag with a Sun Instead of a Maple Leaf

As a reminder of the city that he has twice called home and for a team that he has played on for the majority of his career (plus a reminder of his Canadian heritage), I'm giving Steve Nash a tattoo of a Canadian flag, but instead of the maple leaf in the center, the Phoenix Suns emblem would be emblazoned in the center of the flag.

Nash loves the Suns, and he's shown that in how torn he is between staying with the Suns and relegating himself to the idea that he probably would never win a title and leaving and chasing a championship, and this tattoo would keep him connected to the team forever.

Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge, List of Allergies, Medical Conditions

The Portland Trail Blazers big man has been bitten by the injury bug in Portland for the first time (seriously bitten, anyway), and if history tells us anything, it won't be the last.

Aldridge had hip surgery near the end of the season, and then to extend that streak of bad luck he was diagnosed with a rare blood virus last week that could have killed him, had he not gone to the hospital.

A list of allergies and lingering medical conditions tattooed somewhere on his body would expedite the process once he goes back to the hospital.

Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins, "Success" and an Exclamation Mark

DeMarcus Cousins has what is probably one of the most correct tattoos of any NBA player running down his left leg with the word "Misunderstood" sitting in front of a question mark. Even that tattoo can be easily misinterpreted. Is DeMarcus stating that he's misunderstood, or is he asking whether or not he actually is misunderstood? That's what we're all asking ourselves, anyway.

So, what I want him to get in order to balance out the confusion is the word "Success" running down his right leg over top of an exclamation mark. This would show how well he can play the game with an intensity that can sometimes get out of hand.

San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker, a Torch

Tony Parker is now the guy in San Antonio who is going to take the team as far as they can go.

Sure, Tim Duncan is still hanging around and he'll be contributing whatever he can as long as he's still on the team, and Manu Ginobili's going to continue to contribute, but this is Parker's team now.

The torch would be symbolic of him becoming the new leader of one of the best teams in the NBA.

Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani, Comedy and Tragedy Masks

With Andrea Bargnani, basketball is either feast or famine, joy or despair or greatness or depression.

As a man who can at times score at will and impose himself down low with the ball in his hands with an array of moves that he's slowly been accruing over the years, his offensive game has started to look, dare I say, beautiful.

However, once he gets on the other end of the floor he seems disinterested, uninspired and downright uncaring, which would account for his incredibly low rebounding numbers.

The comedy/tragedy masks would easily show what about his game is so frustrating and the duality that is Andrea Bargnani.

Utah Jazz: Al Jefferson, Baritone Saxophone

The currently tattoo-less Al Jefferson needs something to connect himself to the Utah Jazz team that he has called home since 2007.

Jefferson has been their rock down low, using an elaborate combination of toughness and finesse to score at will and really dominate opponents in the post.

A baritone saxophone would allude to the musical name of the team he's played for, but it would also represent a deep-sounding instrument that can take over a song and be the focal point, kind of like Big Al himself.

Washington Wizards: John Wall, a Jester

John Wall needs a reminder of what he had to deal with in his first two seasons with the Washington Wizards.

With teammates like JaVale McGee and Nick Young, joking around and being weird was the norm for the guys on this team, but winning wasn't.

Get a jester tattooed somewhere and Wall will always remember what the joking around led to—driving him to be a more serious leader and teammate.

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