Braids or No Braids
No need to cut em off A.I.By now everyone knows ‘Melo cut his braids off. Coming from a cat who had braids back in the day, I know that was a tough decision to make. But that is the thing…I had braids back when I was 22 years old. The minute I hit 24 I was like, “These joints gotta go. I am getting old.”
Guess ‘Melo got that memo also. Now at 24 years old, Anthony know that he is older and certain things in his life needed to change. I fully support the new look, but it got me wondering…when is it time to cut the braids off?
I was walking on 125th st. in Harlem a couple of days ago and I saw this dude that was no younger than 50 with these receding gray braids. As I walked by I was like, “WTF!?” This dude should have chopped these off a long time ago.
Watching the Nuggets/Warriors game the other night I remembered that Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette used to rock braids also. So I sat and thought about it. There are a few other people in the league who need to follow after S. Jack, ‘Melo, and Maggette. Real talk…we don’t need anyone in the NBA looking like Jerry Rice when he played for the Raiders.
Allen Iverson
Now 33 years old and on his third NBA team, A.I. would be the first obvious candidate for a trip to the barber…but wait. The Answer was really the first to make braids and ballin’ popular. Believe it or not, Iverson is a style icon in terms of the aesthetic look he brought to the NBA. Tats and braids are accepted in the League because of him. So I say he gets a pass. Verdict: Keep ‘em.
Eddy Curry
Living in New York I will be the first to tell you that one out of every five guys in the Big Apple have braids. The dude who works at the Starbucks near my house has braids and he is like 90 years old (Shout out to Moe, you make a great Caramel Macchiato), so I can understand trying to fit in when you’re not from here….but not if you’re seven feet tall and about 300 pounds. E. City is my man but I think the time he spends getting his hair braided can be spent in the gym. My Knicks could use you out there! Verdict: Cut ‘em off.
Roger Mason Jr.
I…um….honestly don’t know if those are braids or twists or whatever, but I do know they need to go unless Roger is trying to grow dreads…and that is a whole new topic. But hey, if he keeps dropping buckets like he’s been then the San Antonio fans aren’t going to want him to change anything. Lord knows they need the help! Verdict: Cut ‘em off…as fast as possible!
Jared Dudley
The Bobcats need a change of pace. Them boys aren’t playing good basketball right now. While it probably isn’t because of J-Dud’s braids it might be a good change of pace…then again, he aint hurting anyone. Dudley is 23 so I guess he has a little time left. Verdict: Keep ‘em.
Udonis Haslem
U.D. is down in South Beach, he’s playing good basketball now and the Heat have a young squad looking to make noise in the Eastern Conference. I guess the braids are good money. I mean… He is 6’8 235 and puts in work on the glass. Are you going to tell him he should cut his hair? I thought so. Verdict: Keep ‘em.
If S. Jack can do it, you can too RogerBen Wallace
Big Ben was born in 1974. I know that is only a year before A.I., but Come on man, you gotta cut em off. At least go back to the crazy Don King fro you were rocking. I know, you’re probably like, “Ben Wallace will fold you up Christian. Watch your mouth.” I am just saying…it’s time to let them go Ben. Do it for the good of mankind. Verdict: Cut em off…please kind sir.
Renaldo Balkman
You know I am perfectly fine with Balkman’s dreads. He is good money with me. BUT if Renaldo ever gets the thought of going Brian Grant or T-Pain on us and he gets the tips frosted blonde we’re gonna have issues. Verdict: Keep ‘em.
This is just a short list of guys in the League with braids. Who do you guys think should consider chopping off their braids?
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November 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Austin Burton says:
HOLD UP … Christian had braids? I demand a photo.
Add Marquis Daniels to the list; he should keep his. It works for him.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Christian Grant-Fields says:
Austin,
You’ll never see a photo ever. EVER.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Sam I Am says:
Nene – Cut Em
November 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Sam I Am says:
@ CGF
That’s a rough look man…got the Terry Crews with braids look …hmmm
November 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Sam I Am says:
all love tho
November 11th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Bone says:
Delonte West went with braids for one game then back to the nappy ass mini ‘fro. Glad he dumped those.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
QuEsT??? says:
i used to have braids too but i cut them off, too itchy.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
nao_diga says:
See, now this article made me think about those white guys you see who are bald on top and have those wispy gray fringes tied into a pony tail. I could have gone all day without hearing about somebody’s gray braids.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
NAO– Do know my boss?
November 11th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Before the Nuggets Mavs game the other night they said Melo cut the braids off because he lost a bet involving a game of NBA Live jus in case you guys didn’t hear.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
E$ says:
No braids….Who wants to sit for a hour or 2 getting your “Hair done” – no homo
November 11th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
nerditry says:
Again, someone please get this to Thabo Sefalosha.
Ask El Debarge, no light skint + braids.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Ginobli. I know, I know they aren’t braids but that bald spot makes him look old and probably had something to do with his injury. Verdict: crop it short
November 11th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
rob stewart says:
I’ll be 29 next month and I still rock braids. If/when my hairline begins to receed I think I’ll have to cut them. People always told me that in order to accomplish my goals as a grown black man I would need to cut my braids. I am now the youth pastor of a white church and I was a school teacher and head coach before attending seminary. This says alot about the church I serve at and the schools that hired me. For the most part I have been accepted even with the braids. I think the key is to keep them neat and clean. Real people will hire, accept, and befriend you regardless of your hairstyle. That being said I doubt Obama would have won if he was rocking braids.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
control says:
Way to work that daily jerk for SJack. Hard to tell if he was rocking braids in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0NYzfokrXE
Iverson looks like a little kid with his braids (and peewee stature). Guy needs to chop em.
November 11th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Yoooo says:
Yo over 25 NO BRAIDS!!!
Like the nigga Drake say “I smirk at a nigga if he still rockin braids/ that just lets me know we aint on the same page…”
AI is tooooooo old. I don’t care if he started the trend. If Fab was still rockin Jerseys at this point wed wonder what the EFF he was doin. AI has never evolved
November 11th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
D-NICE says:
three words CHRIS FUCKIN BOSH…
November 11th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
D-NICE says:
CUT THEM THA FUCK OFF
November 11th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
doc says:
Do what u want.Whoever.Except them dum ass mohawks,dont do that.
November 11th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
weezy f says:
gerald wallace should cut his off
November 11th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
AT says:
this article was so funny Christian.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Gerard says:
I agree especially about Eddy Curry and Nene. Dudley is too light-skinned for that to work for him, it’s a bad look.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:03 am
MOVEZ says:
I HAD BRAIDS FOR LIKE 2YRS, IT WAS COOL BUT GETTING IT DONE BEFROE EVERY GAME WAS HARD. I WOULD ALWAYS BE LATE…CAUSE I DIDN’T JUST WANT FOUR OR SIX STRAIGHT BACK I HAD PICTURES OF IVERSON FISHBONE JOINTS AND ARGUE WITH MY LITTLE CUZ FOR NOT DOING IT RIGHT, AFTER A WHILE POINTLESS ARGUEMENTS WITH MY FAMILY…GUYS SHOULDNT GROW THEIR HAIR, I WOULD RESPOND JESUS HAD LONG HAIR!…LOL, BUT I FELT THE HEAT ON MELO FOR A WHILE EVEN WITH THE WHOLE LEADERSHIP ROLL ON THE USA TEAM ITS A THING THAT CORPRATE AMERICA ( OLD GUYS, 45-60 YR OLD CEO, CHAIRMAN..ETC)HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR YEARS SUITS LOW CUTS CLEAN SHAVE!!!!NO HATS WHICH IS A BIGGIE FOR ME!…BUT DONT CARE THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN I WILL TOO LET GO!
November 12th, 2008 at 9:12 am
itsakademiks says:
so are we distinguishing between dreds and braids?
November 12th, 2008 at 9:54 am
rena the great says:
Could somebody please tell Mike Moore that his hair is less than impressive? Wait…maybe its the most impressive thing about him. Loser. Nice cheap shot on Amir last night.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:22 am
KennyMac850 says:
I glad Adam Morrision cut off his ridiculas shag he was rockin.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
rena the great says:
Oops. I meant Mikke Moore. Schmuck.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
2 Easy says:
A topic near and dear to my heart. I was havin this same convo wit one of my boys recently and I was sayin Im 21 rite now so I hav a little while longer to rock my braids but soontime wen I start working fulltime Im gonna have to upgrade to dreds simply because I dont think I can go back to short hair and I cant keep rocking braids too much longer.
February 14th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
pig says:
AI cutted em off
February 15th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Tom says:
AI cut them off!!! Wow! He looks GOOD@!!!! GO AI!!!!!
March 18th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
dudley did it says:
hot off the press…dudley cut his braids today…