Basketball and Rap Game Comparisons

Basketball and rap go together like Kurtis Blow and Soul Glow Afro sheen. Chilling with my brother Tommy sparked up an interesting conversation about what guys who've played in the NBA and who are comparable to current rappers.

11. Meek Mill - Lou Williams
The two were great friends during Lou Williams stop in Philadelphia, but that's not why they are comparisons. Meek's rap style is fast and flagrant and lots of people love it, same thing with Lou Williams' offense. Lou is a quick scorer, and in his first year starting, he's averaging right around 20 points a game. Meek's most famous for taking L's. He's in jail now, he's the first to tell us Drake doesn't write his own lyrics, and he looked like a slap loser when Nicki Minaj broke up with him. Lou looked very salty with Jimmy Butler when he chose to dress but not play in the All Star Game. Lou's tweet at Jimmy was worthy, he could've had a spot, but they both have a case of the twitter fingers.

Good friends in real life, they use Twitter a little bit too much for me. 

10. Kyrie Irving - Lil Uzi Vert

Kyrie has a resume for being a great ball handler and outstanding scorer, so people automatically assume greatness for him. And while he's the best player on the 2nd best team in the East, Irving's numbers don't necessarily add up to the superstar level people assume with him. Kyrie's averaging 25 points a game, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Lil Uzi Vert is weird as all get out and so is Irving. Irving still thinks the world is flat, and Uzi is in his own other world. Kyrie has the shot in the finals to beat Golden State. XO TOUR Life, Uzi's big song was the biggest song out for the longest time.

Both a little weird, but their word play and crossover mimic each other. 

9. Giannis Antetokounmpo - Quavo
The most exciting player to watch in basketball is the Greek Freak. At 6'11 he can literally take 2 steps from the top of the key and fly to the basket. With the type of athleticism he possesses, Antetokounmpo can do whatever his mind will allow him to create.
The rapper that generates the most excitement right now is Quavo. He's singing on everyone's hook and always has some clever ways whenever he puts words together. Whenever you see Quavo's name on a song, there's a hype that everyone has.

The most exciting, buzz-generating players in their game.

8. Dennis Smith Jr. - NBA YoungBoy
Jayson Tatum is the best young player in the game, but Dennis Smith Jr. is the most exciting. At 20 years old, Smith Jr. is an animal as an athlete and has the dunks and highlights to prove it. While his athleticism is something to marvel, his decision making and shot selection has to improve. Youngboy is the most exciting teenage rapper. His songs War With Us and Outside Today are buzzing through the hallways at schools and in the rides of cars across the South. While his rapping talent is something to marvel, his decision making outside of the music needs to improve.

Both young and talented, decision making will determine how great they are. 

7. Russell Westbrook - Kendrick Lamar

"Somebody pray for me, it's been a day for me, yeaahh yeah yeah!" There's not a person in the NBA whose play style matches up with Kendrick Lamar's 100 mph, break neck, revolutionary style of rap. They are both unapologetic about the people they are, and both towards the top of their fields. Russell Westbrook's style of constant motion and attacking is exactly how Lamar sounds on the microphone. A triple-double machine, Westbrook gets it done several ways. Kendrick Lamar has several different styles that allows him to get it done several ways. Oh, and their both from California.

Both un-apologetically balls to the wall. Both probably the best at what they do.  

6. Kevin Durant - 2 Chainz

The best offensive player in the NBA and the coolest rapper in the world make for a great comparison. KD is as fiery a competitor as he is an offensive weapon, and 2 Chainz is as clever as a rapper as he is a money maker. A 6'11 player with guard skills, Durant is something we've never seen before in the NBA. He's on his way to winning another championship this year with the Golden State Warriors. 2 Chainz has his own show M.E.S. (Most Expensive Shit) while also making appearances on TNT for KG Area 21. And while on the surface the two don't seem like they have that much in common: They both switch up teams. 

They both had trouble sticking with their original teams. 

5. Kawhi Leonard - J. Cole

One of the best two way players in the NBA is Kawhi Leonard. One of the best lyricist in the game is J. Cole. They're very similar because they both had unique "to themselves" type of personalities. While Leonard's game speaks very loudly, he's quite quiet off the court. You'll never see Leonard get in trouble about a tweet or saying something ridiculous. J. Cole is socially aware, but hardly ever does he cause a stir from something he says. They're both talented at what they do, and you appreciate them. But they're also boring.

Both could be considered the best at what they do but they, (yawn) excuse me, boring.

4. James Harden - Travis Scott

H-Town to H-Town: One Rocket to Another. James Harden is the NBA's version of Travis Scott. Harden is the livest guy on the perimeter and finesse's his way to the free throw line at will. Travis Scott is the livest guy in the rap game and finessed his way to Kylie Jenner's heart and vagina. James Harden is an offensive masterpiece and Travis Scott is a producing masterpiece. It's almost as if Travis Scott produces music to James Harden's highlights. The quick, staccato movements are almost mirrored in Scott's beats. 

Now while both excel in one part of their games, it's clear they ignore another part: defense and versatility. James Harden is averaging just under 2 steals a game, which those numbers aren't bad, but people are accustomed to superstars giving effort on both ends and James is known for showing poor effort on the defensive side of the ball. Travis Scott is known for his fan, fast rap rave songs, but hasn't really flexed his ability to show diversity in his range of music. 

They're both so good at what they do, everyone ignores their inefficiencies lol 

3. Stephen Curry - Big Sean

Steph Curry is the best point guard in the league. Big Sean is one of the best lyricist in the rap game. While both are given their fair-due respect, people really don't mess with either one. We'll accept a Steph Curry highlight, might even oooo and ahh about his 3 point prowess, but nobody will admit he's their favorite player. Big Sean has the hit songs, the metaphors and the beats to be the best rapper in the game, though we'll never admit he's one of our favorite rappers.

They're both really good at what they do, they're just not anyone's favorite. 

2. Kobe Bryant - Lil' Wayne

A 20 year career, that will lead to a lifetime of impact describes not only Kobe Bryant but Lil' Wayne too. Both at their beginning of their careers were hungry, but didn't necessarily produce. Both flashed as a young player and artist, Bryant averaged 7.5, to 15.4, to 19.9 before finally averaging over 22.5 for a championship team. Wayne didn't do much at the beginning of his career, but he did say "After you pick it up then stop, then what, what, what drop like it's hot." It wasn't until Carter 2 til Wayne took off as a superstar and in the conversation as the best rapper in the game. 

Kobe fell off after Shaq left the Lakers, same way Wayne fell off after the Carter 3. Both resumed their careers with Bryant winning two more championships, and Wayne jumping on important songs like I'm On One, Rich AF, and John. At the end of his career Bryant finished with one of the greatest scoring games of all time, scoring 60 on his way out the door. Wayne will eventually get a chance to release the Carter V and for what it's worth, it better be his best album.

The comparison is kinda scary. 

1. LeBron James - Drake

There's very few professionals who have been in the limelight as long as LeBron James has and for the most part unscathed. For the past 16 years LeBron has been on ESPN and in the homes of America and has yet to be apart of some legal scam. He's been successful in the NBA since he has joined and been either the number 1 or 2 player in the league since 2007. Drake is the only artists in the rap game who hasn't had a flop yet. Give or take a song or two, Drake's career has been simply 🔥🔥🔥. LeBron James first game of his career was on ESPN against the Sacramento Kings. James dropped 25 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds as an 18 year old. WTF? Drake's first song that was released for radio play, "Best I Ever Had," was nominated for a Grammy. Talk about two guys hitting it off from the jump. Of course everyone looks at how James left for Miami as a negative, but in all honesty, if the only thing you've done bad in a career is join another team than kudos. Drake's record right now is undefeated in rap beefs, and has yet to release a bad album. 

2 Goats.