By Skyler Trepel (@skylertrepel)
SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Basketball Hall of Fame induction this past weekend was both the end of an era and a celebration of how the greats of the past are always present in today’s game. With the epic inductions of Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant, who accumulated over 45 combined All-Star appearances and 11 NBA championships, one couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.
These three don’t just transcend into the modern era of basketball, but represent the roots of hip-hop from when they were drafted. Therefore, this article will recap the 2020 Hall of Fame class while exploring their rap counterparts.
Kevin Garnett:
KG was a monster of intensity on the court and is arguably the original unicorn. Garnett was one of the first players who could run the floor, grab the rebound and score inside. His mid-range shot at 6’11 was unstoppable to go along with his vicious inside game.
“DMX barked the same way I barked… His music resonated. His beats represented me. I played like his beats. What if Magic Johnson came from the hood? What if Magic had a DMX attitude? That’s how I thought of my game,” wrote Garnett in his book, “KG: A to Z.”
You had to have that killer mentality to hit game-winners in the NBA and the aforementioned bark of KG and DMX was the ultimate expression of that. Just check out any of DMX’s tracks and you’ll be able to find his signature bark. Check out any of KG’s signature plays and you’ll find the physical manifestation of that bark.
DMX was undoubtedly the rapper of the year in 1998 with two number one albums as Garnett made his first All-Star game. 10 years later KG was still on top winning his first championship and Defensive Player of the Year. DMX and Garnett both came from difficult upbringings in the streets and it’s no wonder that the late Earl Simmons resonated so deeply with the all-time great and now Basketball Hall of Famer.
KG ripped up the league for years and earned the respect of everyone. If there’s anything he’s proven, it’s that “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”
Tim Duncan:
Tim Duncan was always known as “The Big Fundamental.” When you break basketball down to its simplest, most original form that is what Duncan represented. He was the master of the obvious with his bank shot and signature defense.
Duncan played basketball at its most basic form on the way to becoming a five-time champion. He never did anything that would be considered flashy in the modern era as he used the most basic dribble moves, textbook spin-moves and classic post moves. However, all the flashy moves we see today were built from the foundation that Duncan utilized.
You will often hear many rappers like Nas, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg shout out the legacy of Rakim for building the foundation. Rakim provided the base for modern day hip-hop at its simplest form. Rakim is known as one of the original fathers of modern hip-hop debuting in 1985 with slick, multi-syllable rhyme that formed the basis of modern hip-hop.
Obviously, Rakim had much more flash partnering with Eric B. to release a song, “Don’t Sweat the Technique.” Duncan was all about technique, but showed there was a little bit more to his swag as he rolled up to the Hall of Fame with dreadlocks and even showed some emotion in talking about his coach Gregg Popovich.
Duncan’s playing days may be done, and Rakim may not be a relevant rapper, but they loom over everything that happens in both arenas today.
Kobe Bryant:
Last but not least, the Black Mamba. Kobe Bryant was the master of detail to the point where he literally had his own ESPN+ show called “Detail.”
“Kobe Bryant is probably Dr. Dre,” said Nick Hamilton, founder of NiteCast Media, on Episode 10 of “Mamba Moments.” “Dr. Dre is arguably the greatest hip-hop producer… one of the greatest producers in music.”
Although Bryant has often been compared to Eminem due to their meteoric rise in the early 2000s followed by a decline in the mid-2000s and a rise toward the end of the decade, Dre is arguably the best comp for Kobe.
First off, Dre is a west coast legend who defined the California sound for decades. Similarly, Kobe defines the west coast with multiple song references and being referred to by fellow Laker legend Magic Johnson as “the biggest and greatest celebrity we’ve had in this town for 20 years,” during Bryant’s final game.
Dre even made a west coast tribute to Kobe that defines their similar quest for near-perfection.
Dr. Dre was an incredible producer who changed the game. This relates deeply to Kobe’s post-career, and how we saw him constantly creating stories, training NBA players, growing the women’s game, and leaving his mark all over the game. You can find Bryant pretty much anywhere you look.
Kobe and Dre were both never shy about their faith and spirituality. This came out regularly in Bryant’s interviews, specifically on “Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith” in 2006 when Kobe discussed his personal struggles. Dre released his song, “The Message,” featuring Mary J. Blige, which was entirely written as a message to God about those whose souls have left their bodies.
Dre has achieved nearly every accolade imaginable as his impact will live on forever and Kobe’s body of work speaks for itself with his five championships and constant reminders in today’s game. Bryant’s physical body may not have been at his induction, but it’s clear that Vanessa was right in saying Kobe was “grinning in heaven” on the ceremony as the Black Mamba lives on forever.
