ORLANDO -- There is good and bad to the bright lights of the NBA Finals -- even for a relatively unknown backup center like Marcin Gortat of the Orlando Magic.Gortat, in just his second NBA season, and the only player in the league from Poland, becomes a restricted free agent this summer. He has helped himself immensely with consistent performances during this playoff run, attracting attention from other teams around the league.
He also received an uncomfortable phone call last weekend from Reebok, with whom he has a shoe contract. Representatives of the company were not happy to see a picture of him from Game 1 in a Polish newspaper that prominently displayed his Michael Jordan/Nike logo tattoo on his lower right leg.
Reebok asked him either to wear higher socks Tuesday night to cover up the tattoo, or to apply makeup so it will not be noticed through the rest of the NBA Finals.
"They called and said I had to do something about it, but that ain't going to happen,'' Gortat said after Tuesday morning's workout.
"I've been wearing it 4-5 years now, and it helped me get to the NBA," said Gortat. "They didn't say anything about it when I signed the contract, so it's not going anywhere. I don't think they are paying me enough to take it off.''
Gortat would not say how much his Reebok contract is worth beyond the shoes he is provided to wear, but he said it was minimal compared to what the stars of the league receive.
"I've heard from other people that even other players, if they don't know my name, they know I'm the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo,'' he said. "I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.''
Gortat has averaged just 12 minutes a game through the playoffs, averaging 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds as a backup to Dwight Howard. But his role in the Finals is becoming more significant because the Magic also are using him as a backup power forward, helping against the Lakers big front line.Gortat has averaged 18 minutes, four points and 5.5 rebounds in the two losses against the Lakers. He expects to play even more Tuesday night in Game 3, hoping to specifically slow down Lakers sixth man Lamar Odom, who has been huge in the Finals. Odom has averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds against the Magic.
NBA Tattoo Photos
Orlando Magic center Marcin Gortat received a phone call from shoe sponsor Reebok because the company was upset about his Michael Jordan/Nike logo tattoo. "They didn't say anything about it when I signed the contract, so it's not going anywhere," said Gortat. Click through to check out more tattoo photos and see if you can match the NBA star to the ink.
Fernando Medina, NBAE / Getty Images
'Kool': This Nuggets forward has tattoos on his arms, but the one in this unique place, carries his nickname.
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Renaldo Balkman: The forward spent his first two years with the Knicks, but was traded to Denver before the season.
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'Juice Monster': This rookie reveals his childhood nickname with this tattoo on his left arm. One of his other tats, located on the back of his arms, is a picture of King Kong. He says he got it because, "I'd like that to be my motto, I'm King Kong of the court."
Andrew D. Bernstein, NBAE / Getty Images
O.J. Mayo: Mayo lit up the scoreboard in Memphis and averaged a rookie-best 18.5 points this season. He also has played and started every game for the Grizzlies.
Andrew D. Bernstein, NBAE / Getty Images
Marley-Inspired: This former player says his tattoo was inspired by Bob Marley ... "I got into Marley pretty heavy. That guy was deep. He was fighting for the rights of his people and, at the same time, equality for everyone."
Rusty Kennedy, AP
Brian Grant: The eighth overall pick in the 1994 draft, Grant played for six different teams. The 6-foot-9 forward/center retired in 2006.
Rusty Kennedy, AP
The Kiss: This member of the Denver Nuggets has lips tattooed on his neck for his pop star girlfriend.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
Kenyon Martin: Martin says he got the lips tattoo for his rapper girlfriend, Trina. The power forward, who never shies from confrontation, has played for both the Nuggets and Nets in his nine-year NBA career.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
Grizzly Bear: As a tribute to his home state of Alaska, this Jazz power forward has a detailed grizzly bear on his left arm.
Streeter Lecka, Getty Images
Comments (Page 1 of 10)
who the hell is the NBA or anyone to tell someone what tattoos they can have, do they tell kelvin martin to cover the lipstick tattoo on his neck because revlon dont like it
thats kenyon martin
The NBA didn't tell him to cover it up. Reebok, who is paying him to sponser their shoes, did.
Just give them their money back if you don't want to cover it up.
lol kelvin martin was the real 50 cent
you nitwit you need to pay attention to the details of the article! the nba doesn't want him to cover it REEBOK does because he has a contract with them! therefore, him having a jordan tattoo while signed to reebok is somewhat of a conflict in interest. he's promoting one player's brand while being paid by another.
i have a big feeling that if he makes a big presence in these finals jordan will sign him!
Was it not Rebok who asked him to cover up because he is signed with their company?
Kenyan
he had the tattoo when reebok signed him, he wasnt asked to cover it up then only the finals
IT WASNT THE NBA IT WAS REBOK
It wasn't the NBA to tell him to cover the tattoo, it was his Reebok sponsor but i agree i don't think they can make him hide it, but whats the big deal anyway its a tattoo?
He has a CONTRACT with Reebok - their rep requested he cover the Nike emblem. Not an unreasonable request. He is being PAID by them to hawk THEIR product. Same dif if it were reversed. He should be thankful he came out of Poland for God's sake and is getting rich here, and handsomely assisted by Reebok to do so.
I agree with you but think of it like this, If your own a radio company and one of your host that you hired promoted your leading competor. What would you do? It's the same thing, now granted when Reebok sign him they should of put that out there first yes but at the same time I can understand why they would want him to hide it. On the other hand your getting payed by them to do something, it dosen't matter how much money there are or are not giving you, your still being payed. If they drop him and took on a rookie in his place would he be mad? Yes because he would be loosing money that he just complained about. Also he is not a star so why is he putting himself with the stars? He's a good player but your not elite so there for you can not expect the same deals they get. Lastly your talent should get you reckonized not a tatoo. If you have to depend on a tat then something is wrong. Jordan & Nike isn't paying, Reebok is. "Pride Comes Before Fall" he needs to get that in his head.
Aaron A.
You should put a tattoo on your forehead that says "IDIOT". Reebok is paying him not Nike.
hello, when you have a contract with any major brand, you have to conform to their wishes, hence the potential multi-million dollar pay check. being a spokes-person for reebok and repping nike as a tatoo is not acceptable. yet, i agree they should have said something before they gave him the contract.
kelvin martin..now thats a good one!!
Heh, not as good as that FreeDarko comment from the guy whose Mom calls Allen Iverson "Iver Anderson". I always call him that now.
With the help of EXTREMELY poor defense from the Lakers tonight, Gortat and the Magic did their jobs, get the Lakers off the boards, and won. Coach Jackson and Guard Bryant were the main Laker producers, Bynum, Gasol, Odom didn`t rebound, Fisher, Farmar didn`t assist. Gasol did score, but as an all star, that is only PART of his job. The Magic will have to play better defense in game 4, they won`t shoot the ball as well again this series, but at least they avoided being swept, and kept hope alive for themselves and their fans. May the best TEAM win.
To put it in perspective, it'd be like the Burger King King to have a tattoo of the Golden Arches on his right cheek.
He's sponsored by one shoe line, but wears the logo of another.
'Course, Reebok signed him -after- he got the tat, so bollocks for them, eh?
Another tattooed, pierced, bejeweled, ego-manical, excuse-for-an-athlete idiot that I could care less about ever seeing in a league that has become a circus.
I concur