The 5 most iconic hairstyles in the history of the NBA

1. The Allen Iverson

I fear if this hadn’t taken the top spot, the people would have rioted. The Allen Iverson isn’t top of the list out of fear of Philadelphia 76ers fans or online hard men giving me a hard time though, it is the obvious choice for number one and without question should be there.

It is the hairstyle of the NBA. It came to define not only a generation but a shift in the appearance of the league. Allen Iverson was the person that helped truly blend basketball and hip-hop culture. It wasn’t just about the game, it was about the swagger. The appearance. The humiliating opponents.

Streetball moves. Mixtapes. When you think of all of these things, the cornrows will eventually come to mind. There were the tattoos as well, which added to the appearance and frightened the elderly stiffs who held the higher up positions in the league. But everybody has a memory of Iverson when they see that hair.

For me (and I’m sure many many others), it’s that step over Tyronn Lue in the 2001 NBA Finals. That was the other thing about Iverson, you just couldn’t help but root for him. He was closer in physical stature to the average guy. His overall appearance, including tattoos and hairstyles, were much closer aligned to the streets than how other professional players appeared.

Iverson was tough. Iverson was real. Iverson had a unique hairstyle that went on to be copied countless times by all manner of individuals. Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Kawhi Leonard and Ricky Davis to name but a few. Outside of the NBA as well, the reach of Iverson’s appeal and look turned up everywhere.

Hector Bellerin. Willian. Fat Ronaldo. Even David Beckham. Professional soccer players who were no doubt influenced by Iverson’s appearance and the way he carried himself. There will never be another hairstyle as iconic or as important to the league as Iverson’s, and it should be celebrated and treated as so while there are no actual games to be watching.