The NBA has instructed Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball to conceal a neck tattoo, citing a violation of league regulations.
The 22-year-old will need to conceal a tattoo below his left ear as it violates a league policy prohibiting commercial logos on players' bodies, as stated by the NBA.
The 2022 NBA All-Star has the initials "LF" tattooed behind his left ear, representing his middle name, LaFrance, and serving as the name for his apparel company. The neck tattoo in red violates the league rules despite a similar tattoo on his right hand not being an issue.
LaMelo Ball is now covering up his new "LF" tattoo.
The LF on his tattoo stands for LaFrancé, the name of Ball's clothing 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 said in a statement.
As of now, Ball will continue to cover the tattoo during games. However, there have been ongoing discussions between him and the NBA to find short-term and long-term solutions to address the matter, per league insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
LaMelo Ball's case is not a first
The dynamic Hornets point guard is not the first player to violate the NBA's rule regarding tattoos featuring commercial logos.
In the past, there have been instances where players violated the rule, and the league also asked them to cover up the tattoos.
Enforcing the rule might inadvertently draw more attention to the tattoos, potentially achieving the opposite effect of what the league intends and playing into the players' desire for visibility.
Lonzo Ball
Interestingly, LaMelo Ball's brother, Lonzo Ball, also faced a similar situation in the past.
The league requested the former Lakers guard to cover up a tattoo on his right arm that featured the logo of their family's apparel and shoe brand, Big Baller Brand, back in 2018.
The UCLA standout soon covered up the tattoo itself after teasing an endorsement deal with Nike in early 2019, after wearing a bandage to cover it up in the past.
J.R. Smith
In 2018, former Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith also had to cover up a tattoo of the Supreme logo, a New York-based streetwear company, on his leg to comply with the league's rules and avoid disciplinary action.
The two-time NBA champion voiced his displeasure about the league's ruling, even going as far as posting on the social media platform Instagram to express 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 shooting guard wrote in a now-deleted post.
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