The 2025 Super Bowl halftime show! Fans are not gonna forget it any time soon. And much of the credit goes to Kendrick Lamar. Coming from his Grammy victories, the rap icon commanded the stage while standing atop a car. Lamar’s setlist stirred mixed reactions from both fans and critics. Some praised his bold choices while others questioned them. With time, he caught the attention of Chicago Bulls legend Jamal Crawford. Crawford’s reaction proves why Lamar is one of the greatest in American rap culture today.

Kendrick Lamar set the Super Bowl stage on fire with a cameo from Samuel L. Jackson. The 22-time Grammy winner delivered a high-energy medley with some of his biggest hits. Including the much-discussed Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” Despite leaving out some of his most iconic tracks, Lamar still had the crowd in a frenzy. His ability to command the stage with such a selective setlist left NBA legend Jamal Crawford in awe. It prompted him to share his admiration for the rapper on Instagram.

3× NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Crawford shared a photo of himself meeting Lamar at a game, with the rapper’s iconic track “Alright” playing in the background. But it was Crawford’s caption that truly stood out. Reflecting on Lamar’s setlist, he wrote, “Went to the Super Bowl, and didn’t even do all of his “hits” my goodness..” He then took it a step further, praising Lamar’s artistry by adding, “Different type thinker Respect bro!”  Indeed, the performance was truly exceptional, to deserve such high praise.

Lamar started his set with solo performances of “Squabble”, “Humble”, and “Peekaboo”. Then he joined SZA for duets on their fan-favorite collaborations, “Luther” and “All the Stars”. Lamar then started singing “Not Like Us”, omitting the controversial “pedophile” lyric. Lamer was surrounded by backup dancers who formed an American flag while dressed in red, white, and blue. The whole atmosphere created by Lamer was so captivating that Jamal Crawford couldn’t help but show his respect. Speaking of Crawford, did you know he’s now NBC’s lead game analyst?

Jamal Crawford lifts up NBC broadcasts as Lead Game Analyst with his Hoops IQ

NBC Sports has officially hired Jamal Crawford as a lead game analyst, with coverage set to begin in October 2025 across NBC and Peacock. “I’m thrilled to join the NBC Sports family and their new NBA package,” Crawford shared in a recent post. The hiring wasn’t a shock really. His move to NBC had been an open secret in NBA and media circles and it’s now official. More analysts and broadcast team members are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Since retiring from the NBA, Crawford has established himself in sports media, working as a commentator for Turner Sports and NBA TV. He is currently part of MSG Network’s coverage of the New York Knicks. With NBC’s return to NBA broadcasting, he is going to play a major role in the league’s next chapter.

Crawford played 20 seasons in the NBA, averaging 14.6 points per game throughout his career. Now, he is stepping into this new chapter with NBC, and fans will be watching. Can he make the same impact behind the mic as he did on the court?