OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — With the Bucks winning the NBA Championships this week, it’s no question that fans are still over the moon and on a high after the recent win.
“As Wisconsin sports fans we’re just in a little in disbelief to seeing us finally grow from I think 14 wins one season a couple of years ago to 16 wins in the playoffs is kind of surreal,“ said Joe R. Wells, a loyal Bucks fan.
Joe R. Wells who lives in De Pere is celebrating the big “W” with a more permanent approach.
“We talked about it during the playoffs. We said if Bucks won the championship we have to get Bucks in Six tattoos to kind of pay our respects. I’m very happy it happened. I wanted the tattoo in the first place, so I’m very happy that I get to have it on me,” Wells said.
Wells said he talked about getting a matching tattoo with his best friend if the Bucks won.
Nick Monty, a tattoo artist at Big Guns Tattoo in Oshkosh was the one who did Wells’ tattoo over the weekend.
“I messaged him the night the Bucks won the championship not even ten minutes after they won the championship, and I said I better be your first ‘Bucks in Six’ tattoo,” Wells said.
“Joe is a really good regular client. He hit me up after the Bucks won. I had a small opening so we squeezed him in and got him set up,” said Nick Monty.
For the tattoo itself, Wells explains what was behind the design he chose.
“It’s just a Bucks in Six tattoo, pretty self-explanatory, it’s a big thing during the entire time of the playoffs. Just the Bucks in general, it’s always Bucks in Six. Thought it was a great way to honor the championship and something that was a part of me and that I can put on me forever,” Wells said.
“It’s a pretty simple scripts tattoo, we just hand drew the form for him. It’s custom for Joe so that he has a one-of-a-kind tattoo and not just something that everyone has,” Monty said.
As a Bucks fanatic, he says he’s just super happy he has something that he can always look back on.
“I love it, it's a great position, Nick always kills it, everything he does on me is always great work. He executed this one the way I wanted it so I’m very happy with it.” Wells said.
Wells came into the tattoo shop, no doubt sporting his Bucks gear. Only fitting for the occasion.
His jersey, number 34 for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I love Giannis, I don’t think anyone can hate Giannis he’s such a kind-hearted person. He cares so much about his friends and family, especially the fans of Milwaukee specifically,” Wells said. “Just to see him go from so little to on top of the world right now is so awesome. He’s such a humble prime guy “He’s a good role model and he’s something you should always look up to,” Wells said.
Interesting enough, Wells is NOT a Wisconsin native. Originally from Texas, the Wisconsin transplant says he’s been following the Bucks since the beginning. He has especially been following Giannis’ career.
“I moved to Wisconsin 2012 for high school and then college thereafter,” Wells said. “I watched his entire career kind of unfold right in front of me. I’ve seen him grow up from the kid to the two-time MVP that he is now, so it’s been pretty cool to see him grow up. “
During the NBA Finals, unfortunately, due to his work schedule, he wasn’t able to get down to Milwaukee. To make up for it, instead, he spent it watching the game at The Abbey Bar in De Pere.
Wells said this 2021 season he was able to make it down to Milwaukee to see three regular-season games and one playoff game.
“I was very fortunate to see my fair share of Bucks games in this year,” Wells said.
The fan says he’s very passionate about expressing himself with tattoos. While he said he has lost count of how many he has, he estimates to have somewhere between 30 to 50 tattoos.
“Yeah, I mean tattoos have always been a great way to me personally to express myself. For me, I like decorating myself to just kind of show my personalities in a sense. Nick has always done nothing but amazing work on me. I keep coming back to him, I’ve been coming in for five, five, and a half years now. Tattoos are always a special part of me, they always mean something. So having Bucks in Six is going to cement a big part of my memory on me permanently,” Wells said.
NBC 26 asked him if he was going to get any more Bucks-related tattoos.
This was his response:
“Uhh we need more championships, so let's make it happen,” Wells said. “Of course they’re going to repeat. Giannis is going to be thirsty for another championship. He’s got two MVPs, he’s going to have to get another ring to kind of go hand in hand with that. I definitely think we’re going to be the team to beat next year. I feel this off-season could be good for us too after coming off such a strong season. There’s going to be people eager to want to play Giannis hopefully. So I’m really excited to see how the next season goes and I think the Bucks have a really good chance.”
When tattoo artist, Monty was asked if he anticipated getting any more calls to get Bucks-related tattoos he said the following:
“I’m sure, we’ve gotten a couple already,” Monty said. “A lot of people want it now so we’re doing our best to try to fit people in now.”
Monty explains right now their shop and many others are booked with appointments for at least until September. He says Wells was actually very fortunate he was able to get squeezed in due to a last-minute cancellation. Monty says those wanting to get a Buck permanent souvenir might have to wait a while.
“It’s cool, it’s a big moment for Wisconsin sports. It’s cool for all of us can kind of band together around that in such a time where everyone is so divided. It’s nice to see everyone get behind something all together and be happy about something for once,” Monty said.
With a permanent reminder of the NBA Championships on his arm, Wells says he’s just so happy to have witnessed history being made.
"It’s kind of a good spot to kind of look down and always be able to see that and remind me as well,” Wells said.
