Anime has come a long way from getting fully Americanized and rewritten to upholding its authenticity. It transcended the niche fandom and language barriers and showed people the world above the subtitles. In the era of global connectivity, the bridge between world-class athleticism and anime has never been shorter. And the NBA is not untouched by this wave. It is no longer surprising to see world-class athletes rocking a Naruto cloak on the hardwood or discussing the nuances of Jujutsu Kaisen during a post-game presser. Zion Williamson once famously estimated that 80% of the league watches anime, and today, that passion is visible in custom sneakers, tattoos, and pre-game rituals. Here are five NBA stars who truly live the “otaku” life.
1. Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
Zion isn’t just a casual viewer, he is essentially the league’s anime ambassador, especially after tattooing Naruto’s Eight Trigrams seal on his stomach. His obsession with Naruto is so deep that he has collaborated with Jordan Brand on several Naruto-inspired colorways like Rasengan. To Zion, the show is a blueprint for his career, dealing with massive expectations and internal power. He famously wore a Hokage-style outfit to Comic-Con and views the protagonist, Naruto’s way of the Ninja, as a direct parallel to his own journey through injury and scrutiny.
2. De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings)
The Kings’ explosive guard is a lifelong Dragon Ball Z fanatic. Fox has often credited the high energy of the series for his style of play. He identifies most with Vegeta, the Prince of Saiyans, admiring the character’s relentless passion and drive to surpass his rivals. Fox’s love for the anime can be seen through his special Dragon Ball edition sneakers with a custom “Vegeta” logo featured. He has been frequently spotted at conventions, proving his fandom goes far beyond just watching the show on the team plane.
3. Daniel Gafford (Dallas Mavericks)
Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford is an avid anime fan, especially of Dragon Ball Z and recently of Demon Slayer. He has a prominent tattoo of Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan on his left knee, representing his admiration for his childhood heroes. Recently, Gafford also added a fresh tattoo on his hand of Rengoku from Demon Slayer. Gafford doesn’t just watch for the action, he uses it as a mental reset to never give up.
4. Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Celtics star guard Jaylen Brown is a known anime fan and is drawn to the creative storytelling, along with the psychological and philosophical plots. He has praised Death Note for its complex morality and Demon Slayer for its stunning animation. The 2024 Finals MVPviews anime as something that challenges the brain and often shares his recommendations with younger teammates to help them expand their creative horizons beyond the court.
5. Steven Adams (Houston Rockets)
The NBA’s strongest man and Rockets star center is a big One Piece fan. The anime’s pirate-like personality fits Adams perfectly. In an interview, Adams admitted that he spent much of his downtime during injury rehab catching up on the 1,000+ episodes of One Piece. In 2019, Crunchyroll tweeted promoting Steven Adams for the All-Star Game. Other anime that Adams has shown interest in are: One Punch Man, Naruto, and Hunter X Hunter.The stigma around being an anime-head in professional sports is slowly evaporating, and these players prove that you can be a ruthless competitor on the hardwood while still finding inspiration in the vibrant, emotional worlds of Japanese animation. Whether it’s a Kamehameha celebration or a custom pair of kicks, the Anime NBA era is officially here to stay.Also read: 6 heartwarming Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion moments fans couldn’t stop smiling about in 2025
