When Lonzo Ball first stepped onto the Staples Center floor in 2017, his arms were clean. No ink. No sleeves. Just a lanky kid with a weird jumper and the weight of a franchise on his shoulders. His dad, LaVar, famously hated tattoos. But as any parent of three boys knows, you can only hold back the tide for so long. Eventually, Lonzo broke.
He didn't start with a giant back piece. He started small. Right on the wrists. For a shooter, the wrists are sacred ground, and for Lonzo, they became the canvas for his personal manifesto. If you’ve ever looked closely at those old Lakers highlights, you’ve probably caught a glimpse of the cursive script. It wasn't just for show.
What Lonzo Ball Wrist Tattoo Actually Says
Let’s get the facts straight. On his right wrist, Lonzo has the phrase "Born to ball because of Him" etched in script. Right next to it? His birthday and three small roses. It’s a clear nod to his faith and the idea that his talent isn't just luck—it’s a divine assignment.
The left wrist balances the scales. It reads "Motivated by Jesus, Dedicated to the game." Lonzo basically turned his wrists into a permanent set of wristbands. He actually told the Los Angeles Times back in 2018 that he used to wear actual rubber wristbands with these phrases, but they kept snapping off during games. The solution? Make them permanent.
It was a move of solidarity, too. His middle brother, LiAngelo, had already started getting inked up, and Lonzo didn't want him to be the only "rebel" in the family.
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The Evolution of the Ink
Tattoos are rarely a one-and-done thing for NBA players. Lonzo's wrist tattoos were the "gateway drug" to a full-blown transformation. What started as simple script eventually evolved into:
- A massive sleeve honoring African-American icons like MLK, Malcolm X, and Barack Obama.
- A tribute to Nipsey Hussle with "The Marathon Continues" at the top of his arm.
- The infamous BBB logo that sparked a league-wide controversy.
The Big Baller Brand Cover-Up: More Than Just Ink
You can't talk about a Lonzo Ball wrist tattoo without talking about the one that isn't there anymore. Just above the "Born to Ball" script on his right forearm sat the Triple B logo. It was the symbol of the family empire. Until it wasn't.
In 2019, the basketball world shifted when Lonzo discovered that $1.5 million had gone missing from his accounts. The culprit? Alan Foster, a family friend and co-founder of Big Baller Brand. Lonzo didn't just sue; he scrubbed the brand from his body.
He called up artist Herchell Carrasco and had the BBB logo buried under a pair of red and black dice.
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Honestly, the dice choice was clever. Carrasco later explained that the dots on the dice—the 1, 2, and 3—represent the three Ball brothers (Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo) and their respective jersey numbers. It was a way to keep the family connection while "rolling the dice" on a new chapter of his life, free from the drama of the brand.
The NBA's War on Tattoos
There’s a weird bit of NBA trivia here. Before Lonzo covered the BBB tattoo, the league actually forced him to tape over it. Why? Because the NBA has a strict rule against players displaying commercial logos on their bodies.
They did the same thing to J.R. Smith for his "Supreme" tattoo. For Lonzo, every game was a reminder of a business deal gone sour, hidden under a piece of white athletic tape. Covering it with the dice didn't just signify a fresh start; it saved him from getting fined every single night.
The Wrist Injury Reality
Fast forward to 2025 and early 2026. Lonzo’s wrists have been in the news for a very different reason. After battling back from a career-threatening knee injury, he hit another wall: a right wrist sprain.
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It’s been a frustrating cycle. He missed the tail end of the 2024-25 season and dealt with nagging pain during his shooting follow-through. When you look at the "Born to ball" ink today, it’s usually framed by medical tape or a brace.
Doctors, including Bulls' team insiders like K.C. Johnson, have noted that while the injury was a setback, Lonzo "dodged a bullet" by avoiding surgery. He’s been focused on rest and rehab to ensure that his shooting hand—the one carrying his deepest personal convictions—is actually functional for a full season.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Tattoo Enthusiasts
If you're looking at Lonzo’s journey for inspiration for your own ink, there are a few professional takeaways:
- Location Matters: Wrists are high-mobility areas. Cursive script like Lonzo's can blur over time due to the constant skin movement. If you're an athlete, expect touch-ups.
- Meaning Changes: Lonzo's BBB tattoo is a cautionary tale. Getting a business logo or a specific "moment in time" tattoo is risky. Stick to core values—like his "Dedicated to the game" script—which tend to age better emotionally.
- Find Your Artist: Lonzo eventually moved from Booboo Negrete (who did his early work) to Steve Butcher and Herchell Carrasco for his more complex realism. Realism requires a specialist; don't go to a script artist for a portrait.
- The Cover-Up Strategy: If you're covering a dark logo, you need something with heavy saturation. Lonzo’s red dice worked because the artist used bold colors and shadows to mask the sharp lines of the Triple B.
The ink on Lonzo's wrists tells the story of a kid who wanted to please his family, a man who had to reclaim his identity, and an athlete who is still fighting to stay on the court. Whether he's wearing a Bulls jersey or a suit on the sidelines, those tattoos remain the most honest part of his public persona.