(Photo : Matt Kelley/Getty Images) CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – LaMelo Ball (#1) of the Charlotte Hornets provides a thumbs-up previous to the second half of the sport in opposition to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Spectrum Center on October 15, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The NBA has instructed Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball to hide a neck tattoo, citing a violation of league rules.
The 22-year-old might want to conceal a tattoo beneath his left ear because it violates a league coverage prohibiting business logos on gamers’ our bodies, as acknowledged by the NBA.
The 2022 NBA All-Star has the initials “LF” tattooed behind his left ear, representing his center identify, LaFrance, and serving because the identify for his attire firm. The neck tattoo in pink violates the league guidelines regardless of an identical tattoo on his proper hand not being a problem.
LaMelo Ball is now overlaying up his new “LF” tattoo.
The LF on his tattoo stands for LaFrancé, the identify of Ball’s clothes line. pic.twitter.com/x0BhRLqo7S
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) November 15, 2023
“Per the [Collective Bargaining Agreement], players are prohibited from displaying commercial logos or corporate insignia on their body or in their hair during games,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank mentioned in a press release.
As of now, Ball will proceed to cowl the tattoo throughout video games. However, there have been ongoing discussions between him and the NBA to seek out short-term and long-term options to handle the matter, per league insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
LaMelo Ball’s case just isn’t a primary
The dynamic Hornets level guard just isn’t the primary participant to violate the NBA’s rule relating to tattoos that includes business logos.
In the previous, there have been cases the place gamers violated the rule, and the league additionally requested them to cowl up the tattoos.
Enforcing the rule may inadvertently draw extra consideration to the tattoos, probably reaching the other impact of what the league intends and enjoying into the gamers’ want for visibility.
Lonzo Ball
Interestingly, LaMelo Ball’s brother, Lonzo Ball, additionally confronted an identical scenario previously.
The league requested the previous Lakers guard to cowl up a tattoo on his proper arm that featured the emblem of their household’s attire and shoe model, Big Baller Brand, again in 2018.
The UCLA standout quickly coated up the tattoo itself after teasing an endorsement take care of Nike in early 2019, after carrying a bandage to cowl it up previously.
J.R. Smith
In 2018, former Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith additionally needed to cowl up a tattoo of the Supreme emblem, a New York-based streetwear firm, on his leg to adjust to the league’s guidelines and keep away from disciplinary motion.
The two-time NBA champion voiced his displeasure in regards to the league’s ruling, even going so far as posting on the social media platform Instagram to specific his disappointment.
“So I was informed today that I would be fined every game if I don’t cover up my ‘SUPREME TATTOO’ on my legs during games!! These people in the league office are something else,” the capturing guard wrote in a now-deleted submit.
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