Kiwi tattoo artist Steve Butcher etches incredible tattoo for NBA star Lonzo Ball

NBA star Lonzo Ball has some new ink, courtesy of Kiwi tattoo artist Steve Butcher. Image / Instagram

There have been plenty of NBA players to get some shonky ink jobs over the years, one just has to picture Chris 'Birdman' Anderson's neck tattoo to get shivers but now former LA Laker Lonzo Ball has got some seriously good new ink.

The New Orleans Pelicans guard has some new ink for a new season and as Australian guard Ben Simmons claimed racial profiling in Australia, Ball got ink that honoured prominent African-Americans.

His left arm sleeve paying homage to plenty of trailblazing African-Americans. The tattooist responsible is California-based Kiwi artist Steve Butcher, who shared the final product on his Instagram page.

View this post on Instagram

Completed this sleeve this week on @zo ! Sleeve is 99% healed just added #TheMarathonContinues to the top of the arm. Was an honor to put these influential people on your arm brother. Done using @stevebutchersmambaglide @electrumstencilproducts @inkjecta @intenzetattooink

A post shared by Steve Butcher (@stevebutchertattoos) on Aug 12, 2019 at 11:37am PDT

The last season did not go how Ball planned, a scandal surrounding his Big Baller Brand saw him get that tattoo covered up but he was also offered up as trade bait during the season for Anthony Davis and then finally was part of the mega-trade that saw Davis go to the Lakers and Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and picks head to the Pelicans.

In the midst of his personal and professional changes, Lonzo switched things up as it pertained to his tattoo choices, as well.

Now, the 21-year-old point guard has added some new ink to his growing collection with portraits of historical black icons that each stood for growth, change, and the betterment of their culture.