Derrick Rose isn't just a former MVP or a guy who survived some of the most heartbreaking knee injuries in NBA history. He's a storyteller. If you look closely at his skin, especially that prominent spot on his throat, you’ll see it. The derrick rose neck tattoo isn’t some random impulse buy or a trendy design he picked out of a catalog. It’s heavy.
People always ask about it. "What is that bird thing on his neck?" Or "Why did he get a tattoo right there?" Honestly, it’s one of the most deeply personal pieces of ink in the league. It appeared during a massive 2019-2020 transformation when Rose was basically reinventing himself as a veteran leader. He flew his go-to artist, Jose Guijosa (better known as Killer Tattoos), out to Arizona. They did a marathon session. Five tattoos in one go. But the one on the neck? That’s the "Ba."
The Meaning Behind the Ba Bird
So, what is it exactly? It’s an Egyptian hieroglyph of the Ba. In ancient Egyptian mythology, the Ba represents the "personality" or the soul's unique character. It’s often depicted as a bird with a human head.
Think about that for a second.
Rose has spent his entire career being defined by others. First, he was the hometown hero in Chicago. Then, he was the "what if" story after the ACL tear. By the time he got this ink, he was finding out who he was away from the superstar hype. The Ba is about the part of a person that makes them individual. It’s the spirit that lives on after the body fails. For a guy whose body "failed" him multiple times on the court, that’s a powerful statement. He’s saying his essence—his drive and his personality—isn't tied to a meniscus.
Why the Location Matters
Neck tattoos are a choice. You can't hide them. For an NBA player, especially one who was once the "clean-cut" face of a franchise, it’s a declaration of autonomy. Rose isn't the quiet kid from Englewood anymore. He's a man who has seen the top of the mountain and the bottom of the pit.
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The placement on the neck is literally where his voice comes from. It’s right there on the throat. It’s bold. It’s also sitting right near another interesting piece: the word "Paideia" on his sideburn/jaw area. Paideia is a Greek term for the education of an ideal citizen. You’ve got ancient Egypt on the throat and ancient Greece on the head. Rose basically turned himself into a walking history book.
The Artist Behind the Ink
Jose Guijosa is the man responsible for the derrick rose neck tattoo. If you follow tattoo culture, you know Guijosa is the guy athletes call when they want something that looks like fine art rather than just "gym ink."
- The Session: Rose flew Guijosa to Arizona.
- The Vibe: It wasn't just a quick appointment; it was a hospitality-filled retreat.
- The Result: A clean, black-and-grey piece that has aged surprisingly well despite the constant movement of the neck.
The detail on the Ba bird is crisp. Most neck tattoos blur out over time because of the skin's elasticity in that area, but this one has stayed sharp. It fits into a larger collection that includes a portrait of Mansa Musa on his chest—the 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire, widely considered the wealthiest person in history.
Rose is clearly obsessed with history and legacy. He’s not just getting tattoos of his kids' names (though he has family ink too, like the "Family First" piece on his chest). He’s looking for symbols that represent survival and power across centuries.
Addressing the Misconceptions
Some fans originally thought the tattoo was a tribute to a specific person or even a team logo. Wrong.
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I’ve seen people on Reddit claiming it’s a "God Speed" tattoo. While Rose does have "God Speed" energy, that's not what the neck piece says or represents. The confusion usually comes from people seeing the "I'll Show You" mantra on his fingers or the "DZY" on his wrist (which was a nod to a Yeezy collaboration). People want to group all his tattoos into one "basketball motivation" bucket.
But the derrick rose neck tattoo is different. It’s spiritual. It’s about the soul. It’s about being "Poohdini"—a nickname his grandmother gave him because he could always "disappear" or find a way out of a tight spot. The Ba bird is the ultimate symbol of that escapism and resilience.
What This Tells Us About the Modern Derrick Rose
If you look at the timeline, Rose got this ink around the time he released his memoir, I'll Show You. He was in a headspace of reflection.
He wasn't chasing the MVP anymore. He was chasing peace.
The tattoo serves as a visual marker of his transition from "The Windy City Assassin" to the "Zen Master" of the locker room. It’s a bit of a "don't judge a book by its cover" situation. A lot of older analysts might look at a neck tattoo and think "rebellion." But for Rose, it was the opposite. It was an act of settling into himself.
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Comparing Rose's Ink to Other NBA Tattoos
| Player | Notable Tattoo | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | "Chosen 1" | Destiny/Pressure |
| Kyrie Irving | "Hand of Fatima" | Protection/Spirituality |
| Derrick Rose | "Ba Bird" | Personality/The Soul |
Most players go for "The Marathon Continues" or religious crosses. Rose went for Egyptian metaphysics. It’s a subtle flex of intelligence and curiosity. It shows he’s spending his time reading and thinking about things bigger than a pick-and-roll.
Looking Forward
If you’re thinking about getting a similar piece, keep in mind that neck tattoos are high-maintenance. They require a steady hand and an artist who understands how the skin wraps around the esophagus.
For Rose, the ink seems to be a closed chapter of his transformation. He hasn't added much to the neck area since that 2019 spree, suggesting he’s content with the message he’s put out there. He’s shown the world his "Ba." He’s shown that even when the knees go, the personality remains intact.
If you're looking to research the deeper meaning of your own ink or want to follow Rose’s specific stylistic choices:
- Look into the Egyptian Book of the Dead to understand the five parts of the soul (Ka, Ba, Akh, Sheut, and Ren).
- Study Jose Guijosa's portfolio to see how he handles high-movement areas like the neck and sideburns.
- Evaluate the placement of your own "mantra" tattoos versus your "symbolic" ones to ensure they don't clash visually.