Best Basketball References in Rap Music Pt.2
Basketball and rap are like Shaq and Penny in ’95—destined to dominate together. Our original 365Scores rundown gave us the classics: Drake’s LeBron flex, Jay-Z’s Nets move, and Ice Cube’s Lakers love. But the hardwood-to-headphones pipeline keeps pumping out bangers, and we’re not about to let the highlight reel stop there. Welcome to Part Two: ten more rap lyrics that dunk all over your playlist, from Kendrick Lamar’s Luka Doncic jab to Drake’s Giannis nod and beyond.
No order, no tiers—just pure, unfiltered fire. We’ve scoured the crates (and the courts) to bring you bars that weren’t in the first piece, pulling from the streets and the studios. Whether it’s vintage ‘90s grit or 2025’s freshest drops, these lines prove the game’s still got rappers in a chokehold. Let’s tip off.
Best Basketball Lyrics
Kendrick Lamar – “Good Credit” (2025)
“The numbers is nothing, the money is nothing, I’ve really been him I promise, see Kenny has been heavy out West and I carry the weight n***, I’m Luka Doncic.”*
Kendrick’s latest assist comes off Playboi Carti’s I Am Music, dropped this month, and it’s a Luka Doncic name-check that hits like a step-back three. K.Dot’s “carry the weight” flex is a double-dribble: he’s shouldering the West Coast rap crown while poking at Luka’s, uh, generous frame—especially timely with Doncic’s midseason trade to the Lakers still making waves. It’s classic Kendrick: sharp, layered, and hoops-savvy. Somewhere, Luka’s eating a gyro and nodding along.
Drake – “7AM on Bridle Path” (2021)
“They know I’ll keep it a buck like Antetokounmpo”
Drake’s Certified Lover Boy timestamp series always brings the heat, and this Giannis Antetokounmpo nod off “7AM on Bridle Path” is a sly gem. “Keep it a buck” is Drizzy’s honesty pledge, doubled up with a wink to the Greek Freak—by 2021 a full-on Bucks legend, fresh off an NBA title and Finals MVP. The deer pun (buck, Bucks, you know the drill) lands smoothly as a Giannis euro step, while Drake’s jet-setting flex mirrors the champ’s global glow. It’s not just wordplay; it’s a Toronto-to-Milwaukee victory lap.
Drake bets a staggering $300k on Canada to upset Argentina in the Copa America semi-finals
Will Messi prove him wrong? pic.twitter.com/LKdWVTHV3u— 365Scores (@365Scores) July 9, 2024
Lil Wayne – “Kobe Bryant” (2009)
The WHOLE Song
Weezy’s No Ceilings mixtape is a time capsule of 2009 bravado, and this Kobe tribute is the crown jewel. It screams Mamba mentality. I think Kobe dropped 60 in his final game, so no OT is needed. Wayne’s not just name-dropping; he’s embodying that do-or-die spirit, turning a rap verse into a fadeaway jumper over the haters. It’s raw, relentless, and pure Lil Wayne chaos. RIP to the Black Mamba—this one still stings.
Public Enemy – “Rebel Without a Pause” (1987)
“Simple and plain / Give me the lane / I’ll throw it down your throat like Barkley!”
Chuck D’s been schooling us since ’87, and this Charles Barkley shoutout off It Takes a Nation of Millions is vintage fire. Sir Charles was a bulldozer in the paint back then—pre-“Round Mound of Rebound” days—and Chuck D channels that ferocity, promising to slam rhymes down your gullet. It’s a no-nonsense flex from rap’s revolutionary OG, proving the NBA-hip-hop crossover’s been cooking since the Reagan era.
Big K.R.I.T. – “Sky Club” (2012)
“Another shot just before it I don’t need a chaser / Reggie Miller ain’t allowed, we don’t like the Pacers.”
Big K.R.I.T.’s Southern drawl drips with disdain on this Live from the Underground cut, and Reggie Miller’s the target. The Pacers legend broke hearts with those clutch daggers—especially if you’re a Bulls fan like K.R.I.T.—so banning him from the party feels personal. It’s a quick jab, but the venom’s real, like Reggie’s still taunting Spike Lee courtside. Mississippi meets Madison Square Garden in one slick bar.
Beastie Boys – “Get It Together” (1994)
“See I’ve got heart like John Starks / Hitting mad sparks / Pass me the mic and I’ll be rocking the whole park.”
The Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication is a New York love letter, and Mike D’s John Starks plug is pure Knicks fandom. Starks was the gritty sparkplug of the ‘90s Knicks—heart on his sleeve, threes raining down—and the Beasties capture that scrappy energy. “Hitting mad sparks” could be Starks’ hot streaks or the mic getting torched; either way, it’s a Big Apple banger that still echoes in MSG’s rafters.
Too $hort – “Just Another Day” (1993)
“It’s the same everyday, everyday it’s the same / But that night we hit the hoop game / Who was playing? Seattle versus Golden State / Hollered at the homeboy Gary Payton.”
Too $hort’s Gettin’ It vibe is all about Oakland swagger, and this Gary Payton cameo is a West Coast gem. The Glove was a trash-talking menace for the Sonics in ’93, and $hort paints a perfect night: catching a game, chopping it up with GP, then probably playing NBA Jam ‘til dawn. It’s a laid-back hoops flex that feels like a courtside memory from the golden age of ‘90s ball.
Too $hort – “Just Another Day” (1993)
“Ayo, ayo, regardless of rain or snow, sleet or hail / I kick street tales, chokin’ n***** like I’m Sprewell / Golden State, holdin’ your fate in the palm of my hand.”
Nature steals the show on this posse cut, dropping a Latrell Sprewell reference that’s as wild as the incident itself. Spree-choking coach P.J. Carlesimo in ‘97 was peak NBA chaos, and Nature flipped it into a grimy threat—complete with a Golden State nod. It’s East Coast grit meeting West Coast headlines, delivered with that late-‘90s Wu-Tang-adjacent snarl. Still slaps like a fast-break dunk.
Action Bronson – “Set It Off” (2011)
“Aged cheese, 8 months, stinky aroma / Behind the back pass, Arvydas Sabonis / Whole smart crew, kid. We smoking weed in diplomas.”
Action Bronson’s a rap gourmand, and this Arvydas Sabonis shoutout off Dr. Lecter is a chef’s kiss. The Lithuanian big man was a passing wizard for the Blazers—think behind-the-back dimes in traffic—and Bam Bam ties it to his own eclectic flair. It’s a rare nod to an international hoops icon, wrapped in weed smoke and culinary flexes. Only Action could make Sabonis sound this tasty.
Lloyd Banks – “It Blows My Mind” (2004)
“If there’s more than one h**, sit back and blow me / And argue over my balls like Shaq and Kobe.”
Lloyd Banks’ G-Unit peak was all about punchlines, and this Hunger for More gem lands a haymaker. The Shaq-Kobe feud was tabloid gold in ’04—two alphas clashing over the Lakers’ throne—and Banks spins it into a hilariously lewd brag. It’s crass, it’s clever, and it captures that early-2000s rap swagger where NBA drama was fair game. Shaq’s probably still chuckling at this one.
From Kendrick’s Luka jab to Banks’ Shaq-Kobe zinger, these bars are more than references—they’re a courtside seat to rap’s hoops obsession. Drake’s Giannis line toasted a champ, Public Enemy’s Barkley nod set the tone, and Nature’s Sprewell flex keeps the ‘90s alive. The game’s evolution—from Starks’ heart to Sabonis’ vision—mirrors hip-hop’s own journey, and these MCs are the play-by-play announcers.
So crank the volume, lace up your kicks, and tell us: what’s your favorite basketball bar? The comments are open, and the mixtape’s still spinning. Rap and hoops forever—let’s keep the crossover alive.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter (X)
Keep up with all the latest NBA news and live scores on the 365Scores website and app!
