ROSEVILLE, Minn — Two words. Naz Reid.
The Timberwolves 6th Man of the Year has become a cultural icon for fans, from beach towels to signs around the metro. Reid is so popular now that a tattoo shop in Roseville is helping fans cheer him on – permanently.
"That includes tattooing Naz Reid on you for the rest of your life, man!" said JC Stroebel, a tattoo apprentice working at Beloved Studios in Roseville.
"I think we're at 75 tattoos completed, I think we have another 75 scheduled and like 250 people that we haven't gotten a slot yet," Stroebel continued.
For $20, Stroebel and another apprentice at the shop, Jesse George, will tattoo the words 'Naz Reid' on you.
"I was trying to explain this to my mom and my sister of like, what is this," Ben Siroka, a fan getting the tattoo, said. "I'm like, it's the greatest NBA player of all time."
It all started when Stroebel sent a tweet out – "Will tattoo “Naz Reid” on anyone for $20."
"I’m dead serious," that tweet continued.
"I underestimated this wolves fan base, and I've learned to never do that again," Stroebel said.
The tattoos have gotten so popular that national outlets have even reached out.
"Sports Illustrated reaching out to us, ESPN reaching out to us, Bleacher Report," he said.
As for why fans are getting the tattoos, many will tell you it's hard to turn down a fun moment like this – but these seven letters hold so much more meaning than just a name.
"I think he just kind of represents what this is all about, which is celebrating the moment as a Timberwolves fan that we're here," George said. "It's awesome, it's been a long time."
"This Naz Reid tattoo isn't just like, oh I'm getting a Timberwolves tattoo," Cole McCormick, a fan getting the tattoo, said. "It's kind of his story, and that camaraderie of the community kind of embodied on the tattoo, and that's what I'll think of it as."
Reid has even seen the tattoos himself. During Friday's media availability, he was asked his thoughts.
"That's crazy, I love it," Reid said. "Keep it going!"
As for if he'll get the tattoo himself? It's a possibility.
"I might," Reid said, laughing. "Why not?"
Stroebel says if Reid actually wants to get that tattoo done, they'll make time.
"Swing through, buddy!" Stroebel said. "I got a big old chair and can get a bigger one if you need, dude!"
"If Naz came to the door, I would just gas him up bro!" Stroebel continued. "I would say man, I hope that you're so proud of yourself because look at everyone else, just invested in your story. And at the end of the day, man, it's because of what he's accomplished. And I would really hope that the way that we feel about him is the way that he feels about himself."
Stroebel and George say they'll continue inking these tattoos through the NBA Finals, which they're confident the Timberwolves will win.
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