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These larger-than-life murals act as perfect tributes to some of basketball’s biggest stars.
Whether it’s a love letter from their fanbase or just a tribute to their roots, some of the NBA’s biggest stars have been celebrated in the form of stunning artworks. Or, in the case of this piece, larger-than-life murals that tie in perfectly with how they leave a mark as a role model to their biggest supporters.
From the Tenement in the Philippines, to a quiet neighborhood in Sepolia in Greece, here are five on-court murals that have been made in honor of the basketball’s biggest stars today.
James Harden
Sitting in an outdoor basketball court in Guangzhou, China, this larger-than-life mural of James Harden was recently revealed during his UNO (Under No One) Tour with adidas in early August.
Completing the design are the English and Chinese variations of the “Under No One” slogan, which has been a key part of The Beard’s personal branding. Made by a local designer named Yin, it is the perfect tribute to the Los Angeles Clippers star, who has been making offseason tours to China since 2019.
Ja Morant
Ahead of Ja Morant’s final tour stop in Manila, Filipino artist Maya Carandang used his talent for the arts to create a perfect “welcome gift” for the Memphis Grizzlies superstar.
The result? A striking court design at the Greenwoods Executive Village in Cainta, Rizal, that features an impressive re-creation of Ja’s face through paint, as well as a photo of him going for a two-handed slam.
Ja himself was moved by the stunning mural and commented a series of emojis to express his amazement at Carandang’s work.
Kyrie Irving
Also in the Philippines, this mural of Kyrie Irving is located at an outdoor court in the province of La Union. In fact, it is actually the first design made by Carandang and his team in their attempt to create 100 mural arts across basketball courts in the country.
Similar to Ja, Uncle Drew showed his love on social media upon seeing the larger-than-life mural in August last year.
“All I needed was an invite. Next year [2025] for sure. Thank you for the LOVE. This is Legendary,” read Kyrie’s comment on a preview that included the caption: “Hi Uncle Drew, come visit the Philippines.”
If Kyrie’s pose looks familiar, it’s because the artwork was actually inspired by his game-winner against the Denver Nuggets in March last year. In that game, Uncle Drew hit a ridiculous left-handed floater over Nikola Jokic to give the Dallas Mavericks a 107-105 victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
As Greece’s basketball hero, it is only right that Giannis Antetokounmpo received his own on-court mural right where he wrote the first pages of his basketball career. Located in the suburbs of Sepolia, the court was unveiled back in 2017 and was accompanied by a full renovation of the surrounding area.
From a kid who once shared basketball shoes with his brother, Giannis now stands as one of the NBA’s biggest stars. And there is no better reminder than this mural, which is located in the place that started it all.
LeBron James
Two years since his first Manila tour in 2013, LeBron James returned to the country as part of the Nike Rise tour. Only this time, the Philippine fanbase had prepared a fitting tribute to The King through a mural at the storied Tenement in Taguig City.
And the best part about this mural? LeBron was actually able to see it in person, where he was greeted by thousands of fans and residents as he made his short visit to the Tenement.
While other NBA superstars have since been celebrated at the Tenement, it goes without saying that this LeBron mural, along with the stamp of approval it received from The King Himself, will always be a special moment in the location’s history.
Banner images from James Harden on Instagram.