Over the years, hip-hop and the NBA have remained connected, from stars like Shaquille O’Neal trying their hand at rapping to Allen Iverson bringing hip-hop style to the sport. Meanwhile, musicians like Drake, J. Cole and Snoop Dogg have cheered for their teams from the sidelines.
The connection runs deeper than just mutual admiration; it’s a brotherhood of style, struggle, and superstardom. And now, Grammy award-winning rapper 2 Chainz has added his own powerful story to that tradition — a heartfelt memory with none other than the late, great Kobe Bryant.
2 Chainz Showed His Most Valuable Possession
In a recent episode of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with Shannon Sharpe, 2 Chainz took fans behind the scenes of his most cherished possessions.
Among flashy chains and rare sneakers, one item stood out as his ultimate treasure: a signed jersey from Bryant. Showing it with pride, the rapper called it his most prized possession — one that carries more emotional value than anything else in his collection.
“This one is important. This is a Kobe jersey that I had on at one of his All-Star games. So the picture’s missing, but Kobe actually signed that jersey while it was on my back … That is always going to be at the apex for me,” said 2 Chainz during the podcast.
.@2chainz: “This is a Kobe jersey that I had on at one of his All-Star games. Kobe actually signed that jersey while it was on my back. That is always going to be a the apex for me. … LeBron is a friend. He’s a brother.”@ShannonSharpe: “That’s the game LeBron had 47?”… pic.twitter.com/nJhKzljkAC
— Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) May 29, 2025
But for 2 Chainz, basketball is more than just admiration — it’s a part of his life. Before becoming a hip-hop heavyweight, the rapper — born Tauheed Epps — was a serious baller. He played Division I basketball at Alabama State University for the Hornets during the 1996–97 season and also shone in high school.
His love for the game never left. In 2019, he went a step further by buying a minority stake in the College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta Hawks’ G League affiliate, showing his commitment to supporting the game at all levels.
During the podcast, Sharpe had asked 2 Chainz to list his top five NBA players of all time. Without hesitation, he named Michael Jordan, Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry.
Fans might notice the heavy Lakers presence on the list, and that’s no accident. 2 Chainz revealed he’s been a die-hard Lakers fan for years, which is a passion passed down from his father.
“I’m a fan of the Lakers because my father was a fan of Magic Johnson. He was a fan of tall guards, 6’9″. He knew I was gonna be tall, so that’s how I got the love for the Lakers, not because of LeBron or for Kobe,” said 2 Chainz.
But it’s Bryant who holds a special place in his heart. “I just love that Kobe guy, man,” 2 Chainz declared.
Bryant played 20 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers and during that time, won five NBA championships, scoring an average of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
His tragic passing on Jan. 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash sent shockwaves through the NBA and devastated fans around the globe. For 2 Chainz, the loss was personal.
“It was just so out of the blue … I had just saw him on New Year’s,” the rapper added.
In a world where music and sports often intertwine 2 Chainz’s memory of Bryant is a moving reminder of how deeply intertwined those worlds truly are.
