San Antonio Spurs power forward reveals how he failed to hide body art from his parents

NBA star Sandro Mamukelashvili has opened up on his incredible tattoo collection, including his unique Kung Fu Panda designs.

The San Antonio Spurs power forward grew up admiring the body art of NBA legend Allen Iverson, rapper 50 Cent and Miami Heat star Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen from a distance in Georgia.

Sandro Mamukelashvili shows off his impressive arm sleeve. Credit: Getty

The NBA star also has characters from the movie Kung Fu Panda on his leg. Credit: Getty

Mamukelashvili’s left side is completely covered in tattoos. Credit: Getty

The San Antonio Spurs star’s tattoos symbolize his bond with his family. Credit: Getty
Mamukelashvili’s family were completely against the idea of tattoos, having grown up in the former Soviet Union where such markings were only allowed on criminals.

But after moving to Italy and then the United States to further his basketball career, the 6-foot-9 forward secretly got his first tattoo of a compass on his inside left bicep aged 17.

The former Milwaukee Bucks star hid the tattoo from his father for months but he eventually found out.

“My mom is my No. 1 supporter, so I feel no matter what I do in life she will stand next to me,” Mamukelashvili told the InkedNBA podcast.

“I said, ‘Mom let me get this little thing,’ and she said, ‘OK just this one thing. Don’t get any more.’

“I hid it from my pops for three months and one time when we were eating with his friend and the friend said, ‘I saw your tattoo.’

“I was all red and my dad was like, ‘What tattoo are you talking about?’

“My dad took me to one side and said, ‘I told you not to get it and you’ve got to promise you won’t get any more.’

“But I was in America and just visiting home… and I think now they are cool with it.”

Mamukelashvili developed his love of tattoos at Seton Hall where he got his first major piece – a leopard on his left shoulder.

On his arm, he also has the letters ‘NLMB’ which means: “I will never leave my brother”, the word “choice” and a tree of life with a basketball in it.

On his chest, he has a Stairway to Heaven to honor his late grandparents, and the phrase “With pain comes strength” with an angel.

But Mamukelashvili’s most spectacular tattoos are part of a leg sleeve which includes the characters Po and Master Oogway from animated movie Kung Fu Panda.

They have a special meaning for the NBA star.

“Me and my brother always watched Kung Fu Panda,” Mamukelashvili said.

“My leg piece is one of my favorite pieces because it assembles me and my brother’s relationship.

“Basically if you are looking at my leg, on the left side where I’ve got [Po].

“He’s kind of nonchalant, he’s goofy but he’s talented and he doesn’t even know it. He always has his head in the clouds.

“Then my brother is one of the wisest people I’ve ever met. He’s my role model. My idol.

“The one person I look up to and listen to.

“I feel like I’ve got him as Master Oogway. I’ve put his No. 7 and his birth date on it.”