The artist responsible for zion williamsonThe first tattoo of showed the process behind the body art, which has a familiar and Biblical meaning.
The New Orleans Pelicans star received a large tattoo on his back that reads, “Mount Zion.” Anthony Michaels, an artist who works at Twenty Five Twelve Collective, a tattoo and piercing shop in Tucson, Arizona, is the man behind the design. On Monday, Michaels posted a video to his Instagram page of him taking a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the piece.
Williamson explained the inspiration behind the body art during a post-game press conference on November 30, 2022, after the Pelicans’ game against the Toronto Raptors.
“My grandmother passed away when I was 1…it helped my mother think of my name. So it’s also a biblical reference. When I talked to the artist (Michaels) about it, he understood where it came from. …He he understood the spiritual aspect that I wanted as to why I wanted the tattoo… the artist, myself, my mom, my grandmother and friends and family… That’s what this tattoo is for,” williamson said.
Williamson’s parents named it after Mount Zion, a hill outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is considered the highest point in all of Jerusalem and is mentioned more than 150 times in the Bible.
Williamson hasn’t played in a game for the Pelicans since Jan. 2 as he has been dealing with a hamstring injury. the pelicans announced on wednesday that the striker has been cleared for on-pitch activities and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.