15 Terrible NBA Fan Tattoo Fails

Image via Complex Original

Team Referenced: Miami Heat/Cleveland Cavaliers

It's a well known fact that LeBron's had some issues with his hairline receeding, but we didn't know the rest of his face was too. It appears as though the artist felt a little cramped against the other “colorful” tatoos, and proceeded to compress all of James' face—with the hair sliding up, and the rest of his features sliding down.

Team Referenced: N/A

This is a tatto of Charles Barkley (during his analyst days) kissing longtime NBA ref Dick Bavetta. No you're not going crazy. A challenge posed to viewers of TNT's Inside the NBA, then-new analyst Shaquille O'Neal promised as the show was going to commercial: “Anybody out there who gets that tattoo, I’ll give you $1000 dollars. Tweet me back with the pictures.”

Team Referenced: Miami Heat/Cleveland Cavaliers

Even the tattoo looks disappointed to be covered by all that hair. Even LBJ himself didn't know how to feel about the tattoo, saying on Instagram, “I guess that’s pretty cool/creepy/awesome all the same time!” (Notice how he snuck “creepy” in the middle there?)

Team Referenced: New York Knicks

Yes that's a picture of Stephon Marbury in the twilight of his career (post-vaseline eating). Yes there's Starbury's recently-adopted motto “love is love” right below. It's hard to believe that even someone who really “loves” Stephon Marbury would get this police-sketch-esque portrait.

Team Referenced: New York Knicks

When the Knicks reached peak “Linsanity” levels in 2012 everyone, whether a fan of Knicks or not, was falling into the hype. When this fan got the tattoo, it was same as Lin's number 17 jersey with Knicks colors. Unfortunately, since Jeremy Lin both no longer plays for the Kincks and wasn't wearing number 17 (something reinstated after moving to the Lakers), this tattoo is nothing more than a fail.

Team Referenced: Miami Heat

Not only is the layout of these tattoos bizarre, but why is the Jordan icon a spitting silhouette of Fat Albert?

Team Referenced: N/A

SMH.

Team Referenced: N/A

SMFH.

Team Referenced: Boston Celtics

It's a Boston Celtic that's a shell of its former self. Which reminds us…

Team Referenced: San Antonio Spurs

Sure, it's exciting that the Spurs have recently added their fifth championship, making them one of the winningest franchises in basketball—but maybe a tattoo to the dome wasn't the best way to celebrate. That's why they have championship T-shirts right?

Team Referenced: Los Angeles Lakers

The reference to Kobe's “Black Mamba” nickname is obvious, but it's disappointing that Staples Center has to look like an awkward kindergarten drawing in the background.

Team Referenced: New York Knicks

We can't seem to decide what's worse, the fact that Robinson has no lips, that his lower body looks like it's sucked into his torso, or that he's attempting to dunk into a flattened waffle.

Team Referenced: Washington Wizards/Washington Bullets

The references are here, from the bullets in the purple smoke to the classic "DC" logo with the arm reaching for the basketball. Unfortunately, his tattoo looks like Napoleon Dynamite was working the shop when he asked for this one.

Team Referenced: New York Knicks

If you're going to completely copy a player's tattoo, you might as well go through with it. The fan, Michael Cooper, added his spin to J.R. Smith's neck tattoo, changing "Young Money" to "Cooper Star." J.R.'s inherent "realness" makes the ink work. Clearly, it doesn't have the same effect for Cooper.

Team Referenced: Detroit Pistons

Sure Charlie Villanueva was a decent player, albeit not necessarily a stand out player, during his time at the Pistons, but we have a feeling you'll never forget his image after you see this creepy attempt at an homage.