In May, when fans were realizing the underdog Timberwolves were still alive in the post-season, tattoo apprentice JC Stroebel had a brain storm.
"Will tattoo 'Naz Reid' on anyone for $20. I'm dead serious," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The history of Naz Reid, like that of the Timberwolves, is the story of a long shot underdog. Reid, the 6-foot-9 second string guard, left LSU in 2019 even though he hadn't been selected in the NBA draft. But in 2024, he was selected Sixth Man of the Year for the league. Today he has a $42 million contract.
Turns out, Stroebel's impulsive tweet started a trend and his tattoo shop was swamped with fans who wanted to immortalize Naz, quickly making Naz Reid the year's hottest accessory, according to The Wall Street Journal.