There is no doubt by now that Drake loves basketball. But it should be noted, too, that basketball loves Drake.
With the NBA Playoffs starting Saturday, we asked players from the Eastern Conference’s Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards and the Western Conference’s Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies what they’ll be listening to before facing off this weekend.
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The answer was a whole lotta Drake, or at least in part, with some Kendrick Lamar, Calvin Harris, Kanye West and even Mozart sprinkled in for good measure.
As the Wizards prepare to battle Drake’s beloved Raptors, it makes sense they won’t be singing his praises, or tracks. As such, he was left off players Bradley Beal, Kevin Seraphin and Otto Porter’s lists. But even though the Wizards have their own hip-hop spokesperson in Wale, the Washington, D.C. rapper’s not getting much love here either.
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Meanwhile, the Raptors DeMar DeRozan is reaping his hometown of Compton with the city’s old-school anthem “Straight Outta Compton” and its new king, Lamar. And it looks like he’s got his Lithuanian teammate Jonas Valanciunas sining along to N.W.A as well.
What else will they be listening to get amped for the big games coming up? Read the lists below and head here for the NBA Playoffs full first-round schedule.
Toronto Raptors
DeMar DeRozan
“Hood Politics” – Kendrick Lamar
“Legend” – Drake
“Backseat Freestyle” – Kendrick Lamar
“Takeover” – Jay-Z
“Straight Outta Compton” – N.W.A
Jonas Valanciunas
“Know Yourself” – Drake
“6 Man” – Drake
“0 to 100” – Drake
“Started From The Bottom” – Drake
“Straight Outta Compton” – N.W.A
Terrence Ross
“Hood Politics” – Kendrick Lamar
“King Kunta” – Kendrick Lamar
“Know Yourself” – Drake
Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal
“Here I Come” – The Roots
“Go Hard or Go Home” – Wiz Khalifa ft. Iggy Azalea
“How We Roll (Fast Five Remix)” – Don Omar
“Dangerous” – David Guetta ft. Sam Martin
“Ride Out” – Kid Ink, Tyga, Wale, YG, Rich Homie Quan
Kevin Seraphin
“Power” – Kanye West
“Heart of Courage” – Two Steps From Hell
“Rise and Shine” – J. Cole
“Lights On” – Trip Lee
“Blame” – Calvin Harris
Otto Porter
“M.A.A.D City” – Kendrick Lamar
“We Be On It” – Dej Loaf
“C.U.B.A.” – Calvin Harris
“Outside” – Calvin Harris ft. Elle Goulding
Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard
“Closer” – Goapele
“Daughters” – Nas
“I Ain’t No Joke” – Eric B and Rakim
C.J. McCollum
“Blessings” – Big Sean ft. Drake and Kanye West
“Alright” – Kendrick Lamar
“One Mic” – Nas
Meyers Leonard
“Lay It On Me” – Dylan Scott
“Energy” – Drake
“It’s Still Rock N Roll To Me” – Billy Joel
Memphis Grizzlies
Courtney Lee
“Stay Loyal” – Nipsey Hussle
“Ball Drop” – Fabolous ft. French Montana
“Legend” – Drake
“When We Ride On Our Enemies” – Tupac
“Picture Me Rollin'” – Tupac
Kosta Koufos
“Headlines” – Drake
“No Tellin'” – Drake
“Energy” – Drake
“It Was A Good Day” – Ice Cube
“String Quartet No. 14 in G” – Mozart
Mike Conley
“Blessings” – Big Sean ft. Drake and Kanye West
“Alright” – Kendrick Lamar
“Champion” – Kanye West
Tony Allen
“10 Bands” – Drake
“No Tellin'” – Drake
“Know Yourself” – Drake