Younger stars like Edwards and Ball cut their signature looks, symbolizing a fresh start and commitment to winning.
Source: Taylor Hill / Getty
The NBA has always been a league where originality is not only accepted but encouraged. From Allen Iverson’s braids and Michael Jordan’s bald head to Dennis Rodman’s colors and Russell Westbrook’s tunnel fits, players have traditionally used their appearance to show the world exactly who they are. The sneakers, clothes, tattoos and hairstyles have become almost as much a part of NBA culture as the basketball itself.
Over the past several years, braids, twists, locs, curls and other longer hairstyles have taken over the league. But something shifted during the summer of 2026. Several recognizable players suddenly returned to the basics, chopping off the hair that had become part of their identities and bringing back the classic Caesar cut. Women online had already been calling for the classic look to return, but the campaign seemingly gained momentum after JAY-Z cut off his Afro and revealed a fresh Caesar haircut during his Yankee Stadium run. Fans immediately praised the transformation, with some joking that the haircut had taken years off his appearance.
Now, some of the NBA’s biggest names appear ready to enter the season with less hair, and potentially, a completely different energy.
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards became one of the latest to join the movement when he traded his longer twists for a sharp buzz cut. Hilariously enough, the transformation gives Edward an even stronger resemblance to a young Michael Jordan, something fans were quick to point out once pictures surfaced. Hair cannot fix everything, but the cleaner and more mature appearance fits a superstar entering the next phase of his career. After establishing himself as one of the faces of the league, Edwards’ new look could symbolize that he is ready to become more than an entertaining young scorer and fully embrace the responsibility of leading a serious championship contender.
LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball’s tall, free-flowing curls had been part of his image dating back to his teenage years, making his decision to cut them especially surprising. Ball returned to a much shorter style reminiscent of the waves and low cut he wore earlier in his career. The haircut arrives as Ball begins a major new chapter with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he will share the backcourt with Anthony Edwards. Minnesota paid a significant price to acquire him, and the move gives him an opportunity to leave his uneven years in Charlotte behind and prove he can stay healthy while helping a legitimate championship contender. The new look will not determine whether the partnership works, but it certainly adds to the feeling that LaMelo is entering the season (and this chapter of his career) with a clean slate.
Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler has never been afraid to experiment with his appearance. He has arrived at media day with long locs, rocked an emo-inspired look and spent recent seasons wearing braids. However, this summer Butler took things all the way back to his college days by documenting the moment he cut off his braids and returned to a low Caesar. For a veteran who has always searched for fresh motivation, the transformation feels like another reinvention. Butler is entering a crucial stage of his career with the Golden State Warriors, and the stripped-down look may reflect a player who knows there is no time left for distractions — or many more chances to chase that elusive first championship.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might have given us the most shocking transformation of the group. His braids had become a major part of his image as one of basketball’s biggest stars and most respected fashion figures, but SGA decided to shave them off and try something different. He explained that the decision was simply about experimenting with a new look. After reaching the mountaintop and establishing himself among the league’s elite, Shai’s haircut almost feels like the beginning of a new era — one centered on defending what he has built and proving that his recent dominance was only the start.
Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks also moved on from the braids and twists he had worn during recent stops around the league, replacing them with a clean taper and low cut. Brooks has built his reputation around being basketball’s unapologetic villain, so the shorter style somehow makes him look even more prepared to cause problems. Now entering his second season with the Phoenix Suns, Brooks will be expected to keep bringing toughness, defense and edge that made him one of the team’s most dependable tone-setters last year. The braids may be gone, but nobody should expect the trash talk — or Brooks’ confrontational personality — to disappear with them.
Whether the changes lead to a healthier season, deeper playoff runs or career-best performances remains to be seen. At the very least, the transformations have made one thing clear: After spending years on the NBA’s bench, the low-cut Caesar is officially back in rotation.
