PHOTOS: 5 memorable NBA masks

It's not quite as memorable as Wilt's 100 or Kobe's 81, but Tuesday does mark the 11-year anniversary of the first time Richard 'Rip' Hamilton donned his famous face mask.

On that note, here are five memorable masked NBA men.

Richard Hamilton

After breaking his nose twice during the Detroit Pistons' 2003-04 championship season, Hamilton becomes the most famous consistently masked man in NBA history.

Bill Laimbeer

One of the most feared players of his generation and a face of the Bad Boys Pistons, Laimbeer was the first Detroit baller to make masks famous back in 1990.

Alonzo Mourning

The Hall of Famer's candidacy for this list can be called into question based on the fact that his 1998 face mask could very well qualify as a helmet.

LeBron James

LeBron's first stint with a mask came when a Dikembe Mutombo elbow broke his cheek during the 2004-05 season, but his most famous masked moment came just over a year ago, when he donned an unforgettable black, carbon-fiber mask to protect a broken nose while dropping 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting against the New York Knicks.

The NBA eventually requested LeBron wear the more standard, clear mask, but his short-lived look will go down in NBA lore.

As Heat teammate Shane Battier said, "Only LeBron can make breaking your nose look cool."

Kobe Bryant

Kobe's worn a mask on more than one occasion in his storied career, but none top the time he doubled as Zorro late in the 2011-12 season.