When Rappers Championed the Next NBA Stars

The cultural crossover between basketball and hip-hop has long fueled greatness.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The mid- to late-1990s saw a wave of high school basketball players like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady skip college and enter the NBA draft, mirrored by rap stars eager to champion the next big phenom. Figures like Fat Joe, Jay-Z, Master P, and Drake have all publicly supported and collaborated with up-and-coming basketball talents over the years, helping to boost their profiles and cultural relevance.

Why it matters

The recurring pattern of hip-hop artists championing basketball prodigies underscores a mutually reinforcing ecosystem. Rap stars provide cultural validation and media exposure, while young athletes offer fresh narratives that keep the music scene relevant. This synergy can accelerate a prospect's brand value, but it also ties their public image to the volatile world of entertainment.

The details

In the early 2000s, Fat Joe's Terror Squad team, featuring top high school prospect Lenny Cooke, won the Rucker Park EBC Tournament championship. Jay-Z recruited NYC point guard Sebastian Telfair to play for his EBC team in 2003, after meeting him at a St. John's game. Master P featured high school star DeMar DeRozan in his P.Miller brand and AAU squad in the mid-2000s. More recently, Drake publicly backed Canadian phenom Andrew Wiggins in 2013 and later name-dropped him on a track, while also reaching out to Zion Williamson in 2017.

  • In the mid- to late-1990s, high school players like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady began skipping college and entering the NBA draft.
  • In 2002, Fat Joe's Terror Squad team featuring Lenny Cooke won the Rucker Park EBC Tournament championship.
  • In the summer of 2003, Jay-Z recruited Sebastian Telfair to play for his EBC team.
  • In the mid-2000s, Master P featured high school star DeMar DeRozan in his P.Miller brand and AAU squad.
  • In 2013, Drake publicly backed Canadian phenom Andrew Wiggins and later name-dropped him on a track.

The players

Fat Joe

A hip-hop legend who turned his early-2000s platinum success into a dominant street-ball team at Rucker Park's EBC Tournament.

Lenny Cooke

Once ranked the nation's No. 1 high-school player, he helped Fat Joe's Terror Squad claim its first championship in 2002 but never reached the NBA after going undrafted.

Jay-Z

A rap mogul who befriended NBA superstar LeBron James in 2001 and later recruited NYC point guard Sebastian Telfair to play for his EBC team.

Sebastian Telfair

A high-school All-American and Slam Magazine cover star who earned the admiration of Jay-Z and played for his EBC team in 2003.

Master P

A rapper who featured high-school sensation DeMar DeRozan in his P.Miller brand and AAU squad during the mid-2000s.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The cultural crossover between basketball and hip-hop has long been fueled by a shared hunger for greatness, with rap stars providing validation and exposure for the next generation of NBA stars.