Lebron James is still the NBA’s Big Homie and Steph Curry is Drake, So where does that leave everyone else?

In honor of All-Star weekend 2018, Here is your definitive list of NBA All-Stars and their rapper equivalents.

Rappers have always wanted to be Ball players and Ballers have always wanted to be rappers. During no weekend is that more true than the NBA’s All-Star weekend. Every year the biggest names in rap gather in which ever city the all-star game is being played to ooh and ahh at the talents of their favorite ball players. Some rappers who are actually decent ball players themselves even get into the action with events like the Celebrity game.

Lebron is still the biggest name in the NBA, just like Jay-Z is still the biggest name in the Rap world. LeBron’s social statements receive the most headlines, his memes receive the most scrutiny and such is life when your the big homie. Steph Curry is loved and cherished by the masses but also shaded and disliked by a few power players, much like one Aubrey Drake Graham. That’s what happens when you consistently deliver the hits, the hits in Steph’s case being his last 4 seasons including being named the NBA’s first unaminous MVP in 2016. To me the status of these 2 in the baller-rapper food chain is clear, but let’s take a look at a few of the other All-Stars from this season.

Kyrie Irving is Lil Wayne (Tha Carter II Lil Wayne).

“What’s happenin baby I’m Lil Wayne from New Orleans, fresh out the Navy now the captain of my own team”- Lil Wayne- “Grown Man”

Tha Carter II was Lil Wayne’s 5th studio album. An album in which he repeatedly stated his frustration with rap audiences sleeping on him and southern rap in general. During his 6 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie won rookie of the year, was a 4x all star (1x all-star MVP) and became a champion in 2016. Despite that he still felt like he was under appreciated and asked to be traded last off-season. Now he runs Young Money Records for the Boston Celtics. If you replace every song on every Kyrie Irving Highlights tape on YouTube I assure you “Weezy Baby” can successfully be substituted as the soundtrack.

Russell Westbrook is Kendrick Lamar.

Not melodic Kendrick Lamar of recent times but “Backseat Freestyle” Kendrick. Russell Westbrook only knows 2 things..seek and destroy. Russell Westbrook on a fast break looks exactly like the 3rd verse on Backseat Freestyle sounds. Unforgiving and relentless. His aggression is unmatched in the NBA similar to how Kendricks aggressive flow is unrivaled in the rap game. We won’t even get into how Russell gets way too petty once you let him do the extras.

Kevin Durant is Wale.

Ok ok ok hear me out! I am not saying that Wale is as amazing as KD. Wale isn’t a former scoring champ of the rap world or reigning Finals MVP. Where these two are similar is that they both care..very much…too much sometimes. Both KD and Wale have cared entirely too much about what ppl have thought about them, specifically on Twitter. As a big fan of both, it’s been mind boggling to watch just how much they care and how riled up they’ve allowed online strangers to get them at times. Of course I can’t imagine how it feels to have millions of people critique your lyrics or professional decisions but I think they’ve both done better at trying not to care so much.

Klay Thompson is Wiz Khalifa.

Klay Thompson’s personality mirrors the “free spirit” vibes of the Taylor Gang boss. Never too low or too high. Klay also makes the best paper planes on the west coast…so there’s that.

Damian Lillard is Dame Dolla.

Very special case here. Damian Lillard is currently the best baller who also raps. His bodies of work on the court and his acceptance from the rap community speaks for itself, so let’s move on.

John Wall is Nipsey Hussle.

John Wall has had a rough season. His numbers are down and after a clean up procedure on a knee that’s been bothering him all season he won’t actually get to play in the All Star game that he got voted into. Along with all of the other story lines surrounding him and his Wizards team this season was the news about him resigning with Adidas. John signed an extension with the Wizards during the off-season and for over 2 years was a sneaker free agent playing in whichever kicks he pleased while waiting for an offer he deemed worthy. If your a fan of Nipsey Hussle you know that he’s been a independent powerhouse for many years. In November his All Money In Label signed a multi-album deal with Atlantic Records. Both John and Nipsey bet on themselves while building their stock and fanbases and it recently paid off big.

Bonuses.

Kawhi Leonard is J. Cole.

Kawhi has been out the majority of this season due to a hamstring injury but we can never forget that he can go platinum with no features.

Andrew Wiggins is Chief Keef.

Whenever Andrew Wiggins dunks on someone the beat to “3hunna” immediately starts playing in my head.

Ben Simmons is A$AP Rocky.

Ben Simmons and A$AP Rocky are both really good at 1 thing. They’re so good at their 1 thing’s that they so far haven’t had to prove they can do other things really well. Simmons is so good at getting to the basket and scoring that he(thankfully) hasn’t needed a jump shot so far in his rookie year. With A$AP Rocky gearing up to drop his 3rd studio album this year it’s clear he’s still one of the king’s of Swag Rap (that’s what we called it back then anyway). Since he burst onto the scene with his critically acclaimed mixtape Live.Love.Asap Rocky has always been able to rap about the flair he exudes. And not much has changed judging from his first single off the upcoming album, although he says he will be trying new sounds this go round.