Rappers Who Are NBA Fans

SI Staff | Nov 4, 2010

Rappers Who Are NBA Fans /

Rappers Who Are NBA Fans

Lil' Wayne | Miami Heat

November 4, 2010 will go down as a memorable day in hip-hop history: Multi-platinum rapper Lil' Wayne (who also answers to Weezy, Weezy F. Baby, Young Carter, Birdman Jr. and Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.), was released from prison after serving an eight-month sentence on weapons charges. In honor of his release, and as a prelude to his celebration in Miami, we thought it'd only be fitting to show what a loyal sports fan the Stunna has been over the years. After all, he loves his Miami Heat. Here's a look at some other rap stars who are big NBA fans.

Jay-Z | New Jersey Nets

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Brooklyn's Finest Jay-Z is friends with many NBA superstars, like LeBron James, but because of his Empire State of Mind, he decided to invest in the Nets, of whom he's part-owner.

Snoop Dogg | L.A. Lakers

Snoop, a devoted West Coast fan, spreads some Laker love with fellow rapper Don "Magic" Juan.

Ice Cube | L.A. Lakers

The South Central L.A. native once told CNN: "I was a Lakers fan in the womb. My mother screamed at a Lakers game for Elgin Baylor or Jerry West and I was a fan from there. I go to every game. It's an experience."

Fat Joe | New York Knicks

Like Spike Lee, Fat Joe is a Madison Square Garden regular.

Nelly | Charlotte Bobcats

Part-owner of the Bobcats, Nelly brings a little Southern Hospitality to Michael Jordan's team.

Q-Tip | New York Knicks

Q-Tip, an acclaimed rapper, producer and actor out of Queens, performed before the start of Knicks game.

T.I. | Atlanta Hawks

Clifford Joseph Harris was born in the Riverdale neighborhood of Atlanta. So it's only right that he's a Hawks devotee.

Will Smith | Philadelphia 76ers

"West Philadelphia, born and raised ..." Go on. Finish it. You know you want to.

Jermaine Dupri | Atlanta Hawks

Essentially what we have here is a Hawks fan sharing popcorn with a Bobcats fan/owner. Um, is that allowed?

Lil' Jon | L.A. Lakers

No, Lil' Jon does not just scream "Yeah!" at the Lakers game.

LL Cool J | New York Knicks

Queens-born LL Cool J (also known on as "The Nanny" and Ladies Love Cool James) can always be seen donning some sort of New York sports hat. He's also often spotted at Knicks games.

Eminem | Detroit Pistons

Mr. 8 Mile may have put on the Show of the Century with Jay-Z and friends at Yankee Stadium this year, but he stays true to his hometown Detroit.

Common | Chicago Bulls

Common can often be spotted at Miami Heat games, but his roots go back to Chicago. He landed a job with the Bulls while he was a teenager living in the Windy City.

Bow Wow | Every Team

Some days he's a Cavs fans, occasionally he's rocking Lakers gear, later he'll be spotted at a Heat game. Dude, which is it?

Drake | Toronto Raptors

Drake is boys with LeBron James, but as a Toronto native -- a rarity in hip-hop -- he is "a Raptors fan to the death." His words.

Akon, The Dream, Young Jeezy | Hawks

Young Jeezy (left), Akon (middle) and The Dream sit courtside to see their Atlanta Hawks.

Ja Rule | New York Knicks

'Memba him? Ja Rule and his raspy voice love them some Knicks. And some Paris Hilton, apparently.

Diddy | Every Team

It's without fail: No matter the team, no matter the location, Diddy (the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy) will somehow always be sitting courtside with at least a couple other famous people. In this shot, those lucky others are Ashton Kutcher and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Published Nov 4, 2010

SI STAFF