Drake Won His NBA Title Which Hip-Hop Star Is Next?

Well, Drake won his NBA title or at least his beloved Toronto Raptors did. Having become one of the most recognizable celebrity superfans in history though, the rap star almost feels like an NBA champion himself. In fact, given that he has an official position as an “ambassador” for the Raptors, some are even wondering whether he’ll get a ring along with the team; frankly, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see some NBA bling on his finger once the rings are doled out.

With Drake’s fandom having paid off so spectacularly though, we got to wondering who among his fellow industry stars might be next. No one’s quite as in-your-face about an NBA team as Drake is these days - not even Knicks enthusiast Spike Lee (who was essentially Drake before Drake, at least in terms of sideline enthusiasm). And it may well be that the Toronto Raptors will contend for a title in 2020 as well, meaning Drake could continue to hog the superfan spotlight. But these are some of the other top hip-hop figures who could experience the same thrill a year from now….

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg’s pulse seems to run at about one tenth the speed of Drake’s, which is to say he’s a lot more chill about his fandom. But he’s also known to be a major Lakers supporter, and isn’t shy about his feelings toward the team. For the past few years those feelings haven’t been particularly good, but now that the Lakers have made a blockbuster trade to pair Anthony Davis with LeBron James, things are looking up. LA has a lot to do to round out its roster, but Davis and James make up the best duo in the league, and with the Golden State Warriors hobbled by injuries and expensive contracts, said league suddenly looks wide open. Snoop may be in for a Drake-like run in 2019-20, even if he won’t be as loud about it.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z has distanced himself from the Brooklyn Nets since surrendering his ownership stake. But rest assured he’s still a fan of the franchise he helped move to Brooklyn, and it’s easy to imagine him right back on the sidelines if the team is competitive. And that’s where things seem to be headed. The Nets made great strides in 2018-19, and now appear likely to sign All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving (who, incidentally, signed with the Jay-Z-linked Roc Nation agency just recently). Irving isn’t in the fold yet, and there will be more work to do even if he does get on board, but the Nets have the assets to put themselves in contention in the East. New Jersey is home to the most active U.S. betting sites, so it’s likely there will be a lot of bookies keeping a close eye on the Nets’ offseason and chances in the East. Keep a lookout for some favorable odds - and, subsequently, for Jay-Z at the Barclays Center .

Travis Scott

Travis Scott may not be as prominent as Snoop Dogg in his NBA fandom, and he’s certainly not as visible as Jay-Z is in connection to the Nets. But he’s a dedicated Houston Rockets fan who has let his loyalty be known locally; not only does he track the team, but he frequently shows up at the Toyota Center when he’s actually in Houston. The Rockets are in an interesting position, in that they seemed to miss their last best chance to beat out the Warriors for Western Conference supremacy in the playoffs we just witnessed. However, as mentioned, the Warriors have since been decimated by injuries, which may just extend Houston’s window. This team is going to head into the 2019-20 season believing it can make the finals, and if it does that, Scott will definitely be along for the ride.

In the end, Drake is a tough act to follow in terms of sheer attention for hip-hop NBA fan. But these three in particular could be very visible en route to similar glory in the near future.