Current NBA Players Who Are Bald
Whether due to genetics, personal preference, or just comfort, many basketball and NBA players worldwide opt to shave their heads bald. While there is no scientific evidence pointing to baldness as a deciding factor in basketball greatness, many of the greatest players to play the game have done so with a shaved head.
And while there is no cure for baldness, basketball and NBA players have been shaving their heads since the inception of the game. And if you’re wondering who are some of the current NBA players who are bald or have shaved their heads, then look no further!
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Alex Caruso
During his time with Texas A&M, Alex Caruso sported a full-head of hair, however, during his time in the NBA, Caruso has become well-known for his lack of hair. And while Caruso may be better known for his bald look, he is less known for his journey to the NBA.
Having gone undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Caruso joined the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2016 NBA Summer League and was signed by the Oklahoma City Thunder on September 23, 2016, though he would later be waived by them and acquired by the Oklahoma City Blue team of the NBA Development League.
In 2017, Caruso would join the Lakers for their 2017 NBA Summer League. After playing several productive games, he was signed to the Laker’s via a two-way contract. In doing so, he became the first player to go directly from the NBA G-League directly to the NBA via a two-way contract.
Caruso’s hard work eventually paid off, winning an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
Nicolas Batum
Nicolas Batum currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers and is known to sport the bald look during play. Originally from France, he would be selected by the Houston Rockets with the 25th pick in the 2008 NBA draft. While Batum has a respectable NBA career, his journey did not start easy.
His father, Richard Batum, was also a professional basketball player in France. However, during a game in 1991 he suffered an aneurysm on the court, later succumbing to it. Nicolas, at only 2 and a ½ years old, and his mother were both in the crowd and witnessed Richard’s death.
Taj Gibson
Taj Gibson has been sporting the bald look for quite some time now. While he currently plays for the New York Knicks, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA draft with the 26th overall pick. Taj Gibson is 6’9” and plays the power forward position.
Before entering the NBA, Taj Gibson attended the University of Southern California and was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. And as one of the oldest freshmen in the country at age 21 in 2007 he was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team. In 2009 he would be named to the All-Pac 10 Tournament Team by helping USC win the Pacific-10 Tournament Championship.
Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard may be one of the best bald NBA players currently playing in the league. And although Dwight Howard veers between sporing the bald look and allowing his hair to grow out, we definitely think he looks better with the hair shaved.
Dwight Howard’s NBA resume and career are definitely impressive. He is an NBA Champion, an eight-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA Team honoree, five-time All-defensive Team member, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Howard would forgo college, rather opting for the NBA in the 2004 NBA draft. This decision was partly inspired by Kevin Garnett, another great bald NBA player, and Howard would choose the number 12 for his jersey, in part because it was the reverse of Garnett’s number 21.
Chris Paul
Whether you’ve seen him playing for the Phoenix Suns or in one of his State Farm commercials, Chris Paul has been known to be able to do it all. A slick passer, sharpshooter, and all-around general on the court, Paul exudes confidence both on and off the court. He is also one of the best off-the-ball shooters, being able to quickly receive and release the ball, confounding even some of the best defenses in the league.
Anthony Tucker Jr.
More affectionately known as P.J. Tucker, he is currently on the Miami Heat and has a long list of basketball related accomplishments. Originally born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Tucker would enroll with the University of Texas at Austin, where he was named second-team All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year in his junior year.
In the 2006 NBA draft, Tucker was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 35th overall pick, signing a two-year deal with them. In 2007, Tucker was waived by the Raptors and he soon after joined the 2007 Summer League roster for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the 2007-08 season, Tucker would win the MVP trophy with the Hapoel Holon team in the Israeli Premier League. He would later go on to play for the Ukrainian Basketball Super League, before returning to Israel, and then to play in Italy and then Germany.
In 2012, Tucker would sign a contract to play for the Spartak St. Petersburg of Russia but would soon opt out of it to play for the Phoenix Suns’ NBA Summer League team. He would be signed by the Suns and would eventually be traded between teams until he landed at the Miami Heat, where he currently plays.
Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker currently plays for the New York Knicks. He was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2011 NBA Draft as the ninth overall pick. Having grown up in The Bronx, he played college basketball for the Connecticut Huskies and was the nation’s second-leading scorer in the 2010-11 season. He was named consensus first-team All-American and helped the Huskies to the 2011 NCAA Championship and claimed the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.