Many rap songs are filled with references to basketball, but very few are about the sport itself. "Basketball" by Kurtis Blow is the most famous. The song is a tribute to the NBA, with shout-outs to the legends of the game (Bill Russell, Rick Barry) and some of the stars who were in the league at the time (Larry Bird, Moses Malone). Kurtis Blow is a huge fan and had a lot of fun writing the lyric. Note that there's not much boasting - the song is all about the players and the game. Many of his songs - and many early rap songs, for that matter - had a lighthearted party vibe.
Over the years, many basketball players have tried to rap (Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant), and some rappers have even tried basketball (Master P, Snoop Dogg). This was the first song that made a strong connection between basketball and rap.
Kurtis Blow is from New York City, so he's a Knicks fan, but he just loves the game. "The Lakers, the Knicks, the Nets - I like so many of them," he told Songfacts. "I like San Antonio, I like Sacramento, I like Houston. But I've been a fan all my life. I remember the ABA, when Dr. J was playing for the Nets."
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