The National Basketball Association is home to a few hundred athletes who are the best in the world at what they do. But many of these players have talents beyond shooting, and several of these pro ballers nurture their passion for music off the court.
For some, the art form is just a side hobby. Whether it's playing beats, freestyle bars, or diligently practicing an instrument, their music offers a temporary escape from the pressures of making baskets and winning games.
For others, music is as serious a career as b-ball. These players spend their off-seasons in recording studios, shooting music videos or planning the release of their next song or album.
Ahead of this year's All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, Advertising sign celebrates both types of music fans — casual and dedicated — in the NBA. The 2023-24 season was filled with players with musical pursuits, from rap spitfires Miles Bridges and Damian Lillard to piano prodigy Zeke Nnaji.
These talented individuals, it should be noted, follow a long history of musicians in the league. Former Lakers champion Shaquille O'Neal is a successful rapper and DJ who has charted several songs on the Billboard Hot 100. The late GOAT Kobe Bryant recorded a rap album, which was never released Visions, in 2000? Allen Iverson, Lou Williams, Dwight Howard, Iman Shubert and other NBA players have released songs during their careers.
As for those still currently in the NBA, keep reading to see 12 musically gifted players — along with the teams they play for (as of the 2023-24 season), their preferred genres and their latest releases — below .
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Marvin Bagley III (MB3FIVE)
Image credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Club: Washington Wizards
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: Marv Vs. Marv IIa 13-track album released in October 2021Listen here.
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Lonzo Ball (Zo)
Image credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Club: Chicago Bulls
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: Ball-Star Packagean eight-track album released in February 2022Listen here.
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Miles Bridges (RTB MB)
Image credit: Elsa/Getty Images
Club: Charlotte Hornets
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: “Bombaclot” featuring Beatsbycali and RTB ChiListen here.
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Brandon Clark (BCVS)
Image credit: Justin Ford/Getty Images
Club: Memphis Grizzlies
Kind: Hip hop
Last edition: Ride the lightninga 14-track album released in November 2023“It's become something I love to do,” Clarke says Advertising sign, noting that it was his teammate and fellow musician, Jaren Jackson Jr., who got him into music. “It's my No. 1 hobby outside of hoops. Now I have a studio in my house and I'm good friends with my engineer. I love being able to find pockets of time to sit down and do some songs. I listen to beats and write lyrics all the time on the flights to and from the cities we're playing.”
Listen here.
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Andre Drummond (DRUMMXND)
Image credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Club: Chicago Bulls
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: “Listen”, was released in May 2019Listen here.
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Aaron Gordon
Image credit: Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Club: Denver Nuggets
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: “Euro Freestyle”, released in July 2023Listen here.
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Daniel House Jr. (4)
Image credit: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Club: Free agent (last game at Philadelphia 76ers)
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: “Motion”, released in November 2023Listen here.
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Jaren Jackson Jr. (Trip J)
Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Club: Memphis Grizzlies
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: KNDa nine-track album released in September 2023“I want to keep finding my sound and keep getting better in the space,” says Jackson Advertising sign. “I've learned so much in five years and I know I'll continue to learn as time goes on… The music industry is all about getting better and I want to continue to grow with those who have been around me since day one.”
Listen here.
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Damian Lillard (Dame Dolla)
Image credit: Soobum Im/Getty Images
Club: Milwaukee Bucks
Kind: Hip hop
Latest project: Don DOLLA Life Lately Editiona two-sided album released in November 2023Listen here.
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JaVale McGee (Pierre)
Image credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Club: Sacramento Kings
Kind: Hip hop
Last edition: SIMULATIONa 10-track album released in October 2021The Michigan native is also a self-taught producer, credited on Justin Bieber's “Available.”
Listen here.
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Zeke Nnaji
Image credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Club: Denver Nuggets
Organ: Piano“Early on, I noticed a lot of correlations between piano practice and basketball – the same dedication, the same practice you have to put into your craft,” says Nnaji, who has been playing keyboards since he was about six years old. Advertising sign. “The same discipline I had in piano, I could apply in basketball. It made it a lot easier for both of them, as they were able to see how each helped the other.”
Listen here.
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Victor Oladipo
Image credit: David Jensen/Getty Images
Club: Miami Heat
Kind: R&B
Latest project: Tundea six-track EP released in February 2023Listen here.
