NBA Players with long hair – basketball stars with impressive manes. From Kevin Love to Manu Ginóbili, these star athletes prove that power can come hand in hand. Long hairs are making a major comeback, especially in the world of basketball. Male players have embraced their unique style by sporting lengthy tresses. Not only does this give them an extra boost of confidence on court but also allows them to express themselves and stand out from the crowd with well-groomed facial hair, trendy fashion sense and unbeatable fitness levels. NBA players with long hair have been sporting all kinds of hair-dos lately. It’s great to see them embracing their unique styles on the court.
NBA players know how to bring the heat on and off the court – they have impressive skills, athleticism, amazing hair styles plus some stylish tattoos. It’s no wonder why fans look up to them. We’ve rounded up 25 basketball players who have made an impression on the court and off with their signature hairstyles. From classic cuts to daring styles, these athletes know how to strut their stuff.
Basketball Players With Long Hair
1. Steven Adams
| Age | 28 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Centre |
| Teams | New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies |
An ocean of attention is making a splash for Steven Adams! Whether it’s his flowing locks, tattoos and fit bod or full-grown facial hair–all signs point to him having a connection with Aquaman himself: Jason Momoa. Who could blame fans for thinking so? We can only take their word that this might be one of the most dynamic doppelgängers in history.
2. Kelly Olynyk
| Age | 30 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Power Centre/Forward |
| Teams | Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics |
For Kelly Olynyk, a new haircut is always just around the corner – yet somehow never manifests. He’s been on his current hair journey ever since he moved to the U.S., and although there’s no telling when it will come to an end, should he decide for a change of style we can more than likely assume that such a mane-altering moment would take place in Canada! But wait…there’s even more to this story. Kelly Olynyk recently revealed that he was inspired to start wearing a hair band by football great, Sergio Ramos! What’s even more impressive is Kelly isn’t afraid of daring new looks – apparently his locker houses an entire collection of 10 stylish headbands.
3. Robin Lopez
| Age | 33 Years |
| Height | 7’0″ |
| Position | Centre |
| Teams | New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards. |
Robin Lopez’ signature curls have taken the world by storm. Vibrant and charismatic, they perfectly reflect his exuberant personality. With a hairdo that sets him apart from Brook, Robin’s star power is shining brighter than ever before in tabloisd and hairstyle tutorials alike.
4. DeAndre Jordan
| Age | 33 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Centre |
| Teams | Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets. |
Jimmy Butler and DeAndre were having a laugh recently on Instagram about haircuts, but it’s no joke that Jimmy is one of the best basketball players around. He stands out for more than just his skills: His signature dreads and eye-catching tattoos make him unforgettable – plus he has an infectiously charming personality.
5. Derrick Rose
| Age | 33 Years |
| Height | 6’2″ |
| Position | Point guard |
| Teams | New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons. |
Derrick Rose loves to switch thing up when it comes to his unique hairstyle, and dreadlocks are no exception! From high tops to spiky afros and casual looks with facial hair – DRose has rocked some of the freshest locs in all the NBA. Experience a few of Derrick’s standout styles today.
6. Ja Morant
| Age | 22 Years |
| Height | 6’3″ |
| Position | Point guard |
| Teams | Memphis Grizzlies |
Ja Morant is known for his electric style, and that extends to his iconic “free form dreadlocks” – sprinkled with a rainbow of colours! But it’s not just the look; he knows how to have fun too. In 2022 during a match against Minnestota Timberwolves, Ja rocked an entertaining ponytail hairdo that had everyone laughing in admiration.
His unique look during this match sparked quite the reaction! Fans couldn’t help but laugh at his pineapple-esque style, which he had to rock due to an unfortunate bobby pin shortage. He may have gone through a moment of embarrassment; however, it’s always important not to sacrifice your fashion sense in order for victory on and off the court.
7. JaVale McGee
| Age | 34 Years |
| Height | 7’0″ |
| Position | Centre |
| Teams | Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns. |
JaVale McGee is not afraid to make a bold hair statement. His career has seen him sport braids, rat tails and even an interesting twist on dreadlocks – combining a short cut with one long patch of hair at the back of his neck! This courageous look sure takes some serious confidence.
8. Robert Covington
| Age | 31 Years |
| Height | 6’7″ |
| Position | Power forward, Small forward |
| Teams | Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers |
From the Mohawk to braids, wild dreadlocks and top fancy knots – Robert Covington’s been showing off his creativity in hairstyles for years. Time to take a closer look at this daring ‘do.
9. Richaun Holmes
| Age | 28 Years |
| Height | 6’10″ |
| Position | Power forward, Small forward |
| Teams | Delaware 87ers, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns. |
Richaun Holmes is never afraid to take a risk when it comes to changing up his look! His signature styles have ranged from classic shorcuts, all the way through to afro tops and stylish braids—always keeping admirers guessing what new style he’ll come out with next.
10. Andrei Kirilenko
| Age | 40 Years |
| Height | 6’9″ |
| Position | Small forward, Power forward |
| Teams | Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz. |
Andrei Kirilenko’s hair has taken a turn for the worse. He had already been blessed with less-than-ideal facial features, and now his long locks have made matters even more unfortunate. We can all agree that Andrei might be better suited to shorter haircuts – call it an aesthetic savior.
11. Joakim Noah
| Age | 36 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Centre |
| Teams | New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Westchester Knicks. |
Joakim Noah stands out from the rest when it comes to NBA players and not just for his impressive athletic abilities. His unique hairstyle and lack of grooming have won him a spot on nearly any ‘Ugliest Player’ list in existence.
12. Nerlens Noel
| Age | 27 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Centre |
| Teams | Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder. |
Nerlens Noel is known for his signature styles, whether it be the high-top fade haircut favored by Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel Air character or dreadlocks that set him apart.
13. Alize Johnson
| Age | 25 Years |
| Height | 6’8″ |
| Position | Small forward/Power Forward |
| Teams | New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Westchester Knicks. |
Alize Johnson has made a statement with his unique and bold hairstyle. While some admire it, others can’t help but compare it to the iconic look of NFL star Lamar Jackson – sparking quite the debate.
14. Markelle Fultz
| Age | 23 Years |
| Height | 6’3″ |
| Position | Shooting guard/Power guard |
| Teams | Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers |
Markelle Fultz loves taking fashion risks with their hair. They’ve been seen rocking dreads, high-top fades and more. We can always count on Markelle to bring something fresh and new – keep it coming!
15. Anderson Varejao
| Age | 39 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Centre/Power Forward |
| Teams | Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers |
His wildly curly hair draws us in and keeps our attention, though we can’t help but remember the days when it seemed like his locks had a life of their own! Thankfully we’ve learned to accept—and even love—his tousled hairstyle.
16. Kurt Rambis
| Age | 63 Years |
| Height | 6’8″ |
| Position | Power Forward |
| Teams | Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets |
Basketball’s beloved Kurt Rambis may have all the moves, but his signature glasses and long ‘do certainly don’t make him a heartthrob. He might be one of the NBA’s greatest legends – despite being an unofficial frontrunner for “Ugliest Player” too!
17. Kawhi Leonard
| Age | 30 Years |
| Height | 6’7″ |
| Position | Small Forward |
| Teams | Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs. |
Kawhi Leonard is a bonafide NBA style icon, and it seems his signature look of cornrows could be the next big thing in league fashion. Not only that – fans noticed something special about them back in December; they resembled an ornate menorah. The Los Angeles Clippers star’s unique braids have made him one of basketball’s most recognizable trendsetters – quite possibly its uncrowned king.
18. Luke Babbitt
| Age | 32 Years |
| Height | 6’9″ |
| Position | Power Forward/Small Forward |
| Teams | New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat |
In 2015, Luke Babbitt’s fans were completely shocked; overnight he traded in his signature long locks for a much shorter hairstyle.
19. Luis Scola
| Age | 41 Years |
| Height | 6’9″ |
| Position | Power Forward |
| Teams | Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers |
The experience of watching Luis Scola transform from long-haired to short is a sight worth seeing – he looks more distinguished with his unique facial features shining through. Check it out!
20. Elfrid Payton
| Age | 27 Years |
| Height | 6’3″ |
| Position | Point Guard |
| Teams | Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans. |
Elfrid’s got a style that stands out! His new hairdo had us wondering – did he just want something different or was it all about protection from the sunny glare?
21. Ricky Rubio
| Age | 31 Years |
| Height | 6’2″ |
| Position | Point guard |
| Teams | Utah Jazz, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns |
Ricky Rubio has traded in a short, simple ‘do for an on-trend new look with longer locks. It’s perfect for the active man looking to make a style statement without sacrificing time.
22. Collin Sexton
| Age | 23 Years |
| Height | 6’1″ |
| Position | Point guard/ Shooting guard |
| Teams | Cleveland Cavaliers |
Collin Sexton has a unique style, with a mane like a lion and a tail like a rat certainly creating an unforgettable look; good or bad remains to be seen.
23. James Johnson
| Age | 34 Years |
| Height | 6’7″ |
| Position | Power forward/ Small forward |
| Teams | Toronto Raptors, Grande Valley Vipers, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks. |
James Johnson is a true trendsetter; never afraid to push boundaries, he has successfully rocked an impressive array of hairstyles – from faux-hawk to cornrows. He’ll even sport bolder looks like blonde dreadlocks and ponytails. His knack for looking great no matter what the style shows why James has earned his black belt in karate – we bow down!
24. Jonathan Isaac
| Age | 24 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Power forward/ Small forward |
| Teams | Orlando Magic |
Jonathan Isaac stands out from the crowd with his unique and memorable spiky hairstyle – but will it keep growing, making him look even taller?
25. Nenê
| Age | 39 Years |
| Height | 6’11″ |
| Position | Centre / Power forward |
| Teams | Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets. |
With age comes wisdom and sophistication – something Nenê proves true! The man’s beard and long hair turning to a distinguished grey add an air of much-earned maturity. He shows us that getting older definitely doesn’t mean letting go of your good looks.
If you’ve enjoyed learning about some of the most iconic basketball superstars with luscious locks, then check out our other exciting sports stories.
