J Cole Earns Kevin Durant’s Nod Over Drake, 4 Years After Sharing the Court With 5x Grammy Winner

The NBA and the music industry are more intertwined than one can imagine. This, to such an extent that numerous basketball players transition to music either after retiring or when facing setbacks in their basketball careers. Meanwhile, several artists like Drake, Jay-Z, and J. Cole have become permanent fixtures at NBA games. It’s safe to suggest that there is quite the mutual respect between professionals of these two very different industries.

Kevin Durant, who’s known to be an avid music listener, recently sat down with Boardroom to discuss everything related to basketball and music. During a conversation, KD was asked to create a Starting-5 team using artists. To which he replied, “Gotta go Master P cuz he actually played in the NBA. Chris Brown for sure. He’s just an athletic freak… This a underrated pick, Rowdy Rebel. He got the instincts that I like. Dave East for sure. 6’6”, he actually grew up playing in the programs. And Imma gonna go (J) Cole. I had to go Cole cuz he actually worked out and played in the league.”

While Kevin Durant’s list included many expected artists, there was a notable absentee: Canadian superstar Drake. KD and Drake share a cordial relationship and the two regularly hoop together during the NBA offseason. Durant even made an appearance on Drake’s 2020 hit, “Laugh Now Cry Later.” The two could be seen sharing the court and playing a 1v1 pickup game in the video. So despite their close ties, Durant clearly seems to hold J. Cole in higher regard as a hooper compared to Drake.

Does Drake have a background in competitive basketball?

Drake’s constant presence with and around NBA players has led many to wonder: Is Drake a good hooper? This question gains more attention when videos of Drake playing with NBA stars in the offseason surface. Moreover, Drake’s frequent trash-talking from the sidelines during Toronto Raptors games has fueled speculation that he likely has some experience playing competitive basketball. However, the answer is no. Drake has never played college or professional basketball. He’s just a pretty big fan of the sport.

Drake has been one of the most well-known supporters of his hometown team, the Toronto Raptors. He has even served as the global brand ambassador of the Raptors for more than a decade. Drake’s fandom and emotions for Toronto were on full display after the Raptors won the 2019 NBA title. A visibly emotional Drake said, “This is poetic. You just gotta watch it happen… Tonight belongs to Toronto.”

Apart from the Raptors, Drake also shares a deep connection with the Kentucky Wildcats. The 37-year-old music star has been spotted on the sidelines of multiple Wildcats’ games. He is even a regular attendee at Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness, an event marking the start of the Wildcats’ basketball season. In October 2023, Drake even handed out personalized editions of his NOCTA Glide sneakers in Kentucky-inspired colorway to Coach Calipari and the entire Wildcats roster.

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