NBA's Greatest Cornrows and Dreadlocks

SI Staff | Apr 19, 2012

NBA's Greatest Cornrows and Dreadlocks

Amar'e Stoudemire

@Amareisreal; AP

Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire, who has been out with a bulging disk in his back since March 26, clearly took the time away from the court to enhance his "swag." At least, that's what he said after he recently tweeted out a picture of him donning cornrows (far left), a look he hasn't sported since he was 17 years old. The new do caught fans by surprise, but cornrows and dreadlocks have been a swag staple in the NBA for years. SI.com's editors poured over pictures of some of the most memorable looks (beards included) over the years. You're welcome.

Allen Iverson

Gregory Shamus, Garrett W. Ellwood, Jed Jacobsohn, Noah Graham/Getty Images, David Bergman/SI

A.I. may always be the NBA's king of cornrows. Here's why.

Marquis Daniels

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Daniels loved his locks so much that he had them made out of diamonds. What a baller.

Brad Miller

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

For some reason, Miller thought this would be a good idea.

Richard Hamilton

AP; Allen Einstein/Bloomberg News/Landov

Another cornrows guru, Hamilton was even paid an undisclosed sum by Goodyear to braid his hair in the tread pattern of the company's Assurance TripleTred tire (center). But that may not have been his best design.

Ben Wallace

Mark Goldman/Icon SMI; Stephen Dunn/Getty Images; AP

Wallace experimented with different lengths of cornrows. He was also a big fan of just going all fro, which was just as incredible -- maybe moreso.

Drew Gooden

AP

Mmm, the spider goatee. How attractive.

Carmelo Anthony

Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Melo had some pretty great cornrow designs in his early NBA years, but our favorite is the one in the inset.

Michael Beasley

Icon SMI; Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images; Greg Nelson/SI

Beasley has tried it all.

Chris Bosh

AP

Dear Chris Bosh: Please bring back the dreads. Thank you.

Scot Pollard

Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Why was this necessary?

Jermaine O'Neal

Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

O'Neal had one of the best designs, perhaps ever.

Latrell Sprewell

Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images

Few could rock the dreadlock pigtails like Spree.

Chris Wilcox

Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images

This is how you make a receding hairline cool.

Vladimir Radmanovic

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Not recommended.

Delonte West

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

You have to admit: Delonte looked good in cornrows.

Brandon Jennings

Fernando Medina, Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

Take your pick: cornrows or mini dreads. Frankly, we prefer the high top fade on Jennings.

Stephen Jackson

Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

No comment.

Ricky Davis

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Now a D-Leaguer, Davis had some pretty crazy designs when he was in the NBA.

Ronny Turiaf

Robert Duyos/Landov

Turiaf has been donning these same cornrows for years.

Etan Thomas

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Thomas owned the long dreads ...

Brian Grant

Kent Horner/NBAE via Getty Images

But Grant's blond tips were pretty awesome ...

Kenneth Faried

Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

And Faried has a set of dreads that is simply remarkable.

Eddy Curry

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Can't forget about Curry.