The NBA has always been not only a basketball inspiration for millions of men but also one of the most influential trendsetters for them. Just like in other sports, most NBA players compete both in performance and in their looks.
The coolest basketball players are often associated with the coolest haircuts. From braided hair, cornrows, and catching snails, to fades and shaved-in designs: here are the best hairstyles in the league.
Best Players With the Best Hair in the NBA
@nbabrasil
The athletes in the list below are assessed by our team as the best and most creative in terms of their style. Obviously, fashion looks don’t necessarily make them the best basketball players in the league.
Still, these are the winners of the style game. We would highly recommend you check out more of their looks from different games for a broader fashion overview:
- Ja Morant – Memphis Grizzlies
- Markelle Fultz – Orlando Magic
- Jimmy Butler – Miami Heat
- JaVale McGee – Dallas Mavericks
- Derrick Rose – New York Knicks
- Robert Covington – Los Angeles Clippers
Ja Morant
@jamorant
Ja Morant is famous in the NBA for his explosive gameplay and statement hairstyles equally. Ja Morant keeps experimenting with his free-form dreadlocks, coming up with new fun styles each time. The young man demonstrates his strong attitude and limitlessness at the basketball court, and backs up his performance with dreadlocks ponytails and half-ups.
Markelle Fultz
@markellefultz
Markelle Fultz has moved from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Orlando Magic and now playing the position of starting point guard for the team. Some people even say that this success is due to his decision to grow a longer hairstyle. Whether or not that dreadlock undercut has any magical properties, what we know for sure is that this style leaves no one indifferent and singles the player out of the NBA crowd.
Jimmy Butler
@jimmybutler
Besides Jimmy Butler’s fans and basketball enthusiasts, a lot of other players would start adopting similar looks. Still, Butler was the first basketball player and biggest star to rock it. Several French braid cornrows are flowing to the back of his head. Like many basketball hairstyle, this one is finished with a dramatic black headband.
JaVale McGee
@dallasmavs
Having become the face of multiple advertisement campaigns, JaVale McGee has been representing quite a few different basketball hairstyles throughout his career. From an old rat tail at the back, he has grown out longer locks and often wears them in braids. Overall, McGee might be forgotten for his play in the game but he won’t be forgotten for having the best braided hairstyles among the basketball players in the NBA.
Derrick Rose
Famous not only as one of the most loved players in the league but also as one of the basketball players with the best hair in the NBA, Derrick Rose keeps his style practical. Typically, he ties his braids or dreads with a rubber into a low ponytail so that long braids never distract him from the game.
Robert Covington
This American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers has probably tried and tested all the coolest hairstyle ideas. Typically changing his style season after season, Covington has had a mohawk, braids, fancy top-up dreadlocks, curly hair with a low skin fade… Each style is different, yet each is fun, charming, and sports-appropriate.
DeAndre Jordan
@deandre
DeAndre Jordan has also rocked a few various looks during his career, but the latest style of this basketball player s a brand new level. Having his natural Afro-American hair longer than ever before, Jordan made cool twisted braids and paired the hairstyle with a full thick beard. Despite that bold and brutal look, DeAndre Jordan is believed to be one of the nicest basketbal players in the league.
Steven Adams
Steven Adams is known for one of the most unique looks in the entire NBA. It’s easy to spot him with the beauty of the longest hair on the court paired with a mustache and a beard. Looking like Aquaman that can play basketball, Steven Adams always wins the style game and typically performs great as a basketball player. In this picture, you can see him tying that long hairstyle into a low ponytail, sometimes he opts for a man bun instead.
Robin Lopez
And here we go with another unique hairstyle in the league. Despite being the less talented twin to his brother Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez wins the style game with his unique hairstyle and eventually has a lot of fans as well. This hairstyle perfectly speaks for Robin’s vibrant personality, which will keep this guy in the spotlight even if he stops playing at all. Hairstyles like this require appropriate genetics and proper hair care. Probably, the Lopez guys have a combination of both.
Kelly Olynyk
kellyolynyk
Kelly Olynyk is a Canadian basketball player who has been on the NBA league scene for quite some time so we can’t but appreciate his one-of-a-kind hairstyle. This basketball player has gone a long way with his hair and they say he never trims it in any other country but Canada. Whatever the secret of his long luscious locks is, the free-flawing style is an integral part of his image and he sticks to it from season to season.
Dennis Schröder
@ds17_fg
This basketball player always keeps his hairstyle neat, short, clean but never comes to the court without a catchy detail or a signature twist. So, here we go with a traditional fade, angular edgy hairline, and an outstanding blonde highlight on top of his curly black hair crown.
Jeremy Lin
@jlin7
Jeremy Lin is the first young basketball player on our list featuring naturally straight hair. Having been in the public eye for a long time, this lucky guy has learned to show off his charisma through a perfect upswept taper fade as you see in the picture. The hairstyle looks fantastic and suits his face shape and features nicely.
Elfrid Payton
@elfridpayton4
Elfrid Payton and his hairstyle are one of the most recognizable in the NBA. He’s been loyal to the style throughout his career grabbing a lot of attention from fans. Instead of sweeping his braids or dreads back, tying them with a rubber or just taking them away from face with a headband, Elfrid Payton styles his long hair locks forward almost covering the forehead and the face like in the picture.
Mike Conley Jr.
Being a rather superstitious guy regarding his hair, Mike Conley Jr. typically prefers to wear his hair twisted in a dreadlock or braids. During one of the interviews, Mike Conley Jr. mentioned that he keeps dreads when he and his teammates win and opens them when the team loses. By the way, his team hardly ever lost a game two in a row. Whether or not this hairstyle really affects the performance, it always looks cool, especially when paired with headbands.
Ricky Rubio
@ruuufio
The Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio constantly knocks people off either with his aggressive gameplay or with his charming looks. His silky and shiny hair is usually swept back into a flawless ponytail while playing at court. The bushy beard is another detail singling him out of teammates and other players in the league.
Kyle Kuzma
@kuz
Kyle Kuzma has done a long way of hair and style experiments over the past season. His blonde long hair style has transformed into an extremely short but killing buzz cut fade hairstyle that he often pairs with facial hair for stylish playing.
Kawhi Leonard
Although you can encounter this braided cornrows hairstyle in other NBA players, we can’t deny Kawhi Leonard wears those braids most professionally. Fans love this hairstyle investing in Kawhi’s streamlined and powerful image.
Gordon Hayward
@gordonhayward
Gordon Hayward is the first pale-faced gifted young basketball player with a bright career ahead in our list. Being a versatile player at games who keeps improving his skills year after year, Gordon also stands out with his simple but hot hairstyles. For instance, this hairstyle combines the elements of carelessness and perfection and complements his personality and natural style.
Nick Young
@swaggyp1
Nick Young aka Swaggy P constantly demonstrates his fantastic sense of humor through his creative and unique hairstyles. This relaxed, tapered frohawk with a blonde crown just rocks. As an NBA veteran, Nick has some free publicity and fully uses it.
FAQ
How should I wear my hair for basketball?
As you can see, only the NBA players follow the rules of the game only at court. But when it comes to their hair, they just choose what they feel is right. Still, most athletes take the hair away from their faces with headbands or tie the hair back in a ponytail. Other popular basketball options are an undercut, taper, messy crop, frohawk, and just a shaved head.
Which NBA player has the best hair?
We would choose Robin Lopez and his brother as a family with very blessed genetics. Also, Ja Morant as a guy with a very recognizable style. However, you’d better choose the style not only based on your liking but also done on a similar hair texture to yours.
How much do NBA players pay for haircuts?
On average, a basic NBA cut costs about $100, and is done once every 5-7 days. Still, since there’s no set price for a cut and it depends on the particular hair style, the barber, a typical $75 cut can cost up to $1000. Some barbers don’t establish a price for sports people, others have a minimum ($100–$250) but basketball players often pay more.
How often do NBA players get haircuts?
At least once a week. Some do their hair every 5 days to keep their look fresh most of the time.
Is long hair allowed in basketball?
The hair-length policy can be established by a basketball coach. It can vary from team to team and require something like “hair has to be cut above the ears, eyebrows, and collar”. Still, we can see a huge number of basketball players wearing their long hair in a ponytail, braids, or dreads. Thus, comfort and safety are the most significant criteria to consider haircuts for doing sports or playing any active games.
Conclusion
A hairstyle worn during the game might not make a huge difference for a player or affect their career somehow. However, an ideally chosen personalized and nice cut does make a difference in building a personal style.
Most players in the NBA league are always on top of their game both in style and basketball. So, each picture from the gallery of the best basketball hairstyle is worth being your next hair inspiration.