NBA players and musical artists have always been close with one another. One frequent way that we’ve seen that over the years is music videos, as NBA players have frequently made cameos in them, whether they’re just showing their face for a moment or they’re a main character in the story that an artist is trying to tell.
Today, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite appearances that NBA players have made in music videos over the years. Players from a number of different eras — and songs from a number of different genres — made it on the list, but all of them feature artists making it a point to get some of the biggest names in basketball into their videos.
Kobe Bryant: “Bug-a-Boo” by Destiny’s Child
This wasn’t the only time Kobe linked up with Destiny’s Child — he recorded a verse on a remix of their track “Say My Name.” He does have a cameo in the video for “Bug-a-Boo,” though, as Destiny’s Child — which is trying to get away from a group that is bugging them — dips into a locker room. While going through there, they come across Bryant, who is sitting there and getting ready to play basketball.
Michael Jordan: “Jam” by Michael Jackson
MJ and MJ just had to appear in a music video together at some point, no? The two appear on a basketball court and shoot hoops with one another, and at one point, Michael (Jackson) teaches Michael (Jordan) some dance moves. These might have been the two most famous people in the world when this video came out in 1992, and it’s a pretty remarkable cultural artifact.
DeMar DeRozan: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
The newest release on this list, DeRozan was one of the many celebrities who made a cameo in Lamar’s summer anthem that doubled as the high point of his feud with Drake from earlier this year. It turns out DeRozan has known Lamar for quite some time, and while he said he still has love for Drake despite appearing in this video, well, it sure seems like there might be some tension here.
Shaquille O’Neal: “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” by Master P featuring Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X & Mystikal
Shaq, as we’ve laid out before, has been in a ton of music videos over the years. His first was the iconic “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” video, where he sits courtside and looks like he’s having the time of his life as Master P and co. put on a show on the hardwood.
Isiah Thomas, Chris Mullin, and David Robinson: “2 Legit 2 Quit” by MC Hammer
One of the biggest music videos of all time — it’s a little more than 14 and a half minutes long, and is absolutely jam packed with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment at that time. Names like Deion Sanders, Rickey Henderson, and Wayne Gretzky make cameos, while the NBA is well-represented with two members of the Dream Team and, uh, a third player who was almost on the Dream Team.
Jimmy Butler: “So Much (for) Stardust” by Fall Out Boy
Easily the most … unique video on this list. It features Jimmy Butler dressed up in what I can only describe as an emo cowboy costume and really committing fully to the bit. (The bit, of course, is “Jimmy Butler dressing like this in a Fall Out Boy video.”) There is no one in the NBA quite like Jimmy, and this video is a pretty good example of why that is the case.
For years, Miami fans have gotten heat (pun intended) for not exactly being the most punctual fan base in the NBA. A combination of some heavy traffic and living in a city with beaches and restaurants and plenty to do means a lot of Heat games start with a sparsely filled arena, eventually reaching capacity well after the opening tip.
Miami fans will defend themselves with a variety of excuses, including some very legitimate ones, but it is noticeable and it’s not just fans of other teams or the media that see it. In a new video with Complex, Jimmy Butler sat down with pop star Camila Cabello to talk about their shared home city, and while Butler made clear he loves the people of Miami, he also couldn’t help but complain about the tardiness of the fans, calling it the worst thing about the city.
Butler wants to have the building “rocking” from the jump, but it tends to be a slow build to the energy at home games for the Heat. It’ll be interesting to see how this goes over with Heat fans. Butler, for his part, has one more year left on his deal with the Heat and extension talks with the organization have seemingly not gotten far. That said, while there was reporting earlier this summer that could lead to Butler pushing his way out via trade, more recently the indication has been he’ll play out the year with the Heat whether he’s got a long-term deal or not. Either way, he’d like to see the Kaseya Center fill up a bit earlier than usual next season.
Camila Cabello is really swinging for the fences on her new album. She already has solo hits under her belt, but the former Fifth Harmony member wants more. Wisely, she decided to link up with the biggest rapper in the world: Drake. Granted, Drake’s reputation is a little rocky these days, but a feature, let alone two, from the 6 God, is a surefire way to attract eyes and ears. Cabello has been hyping up the release of her Drake collabs for weeks, but she finally shed light on how and when they came about.
Camila Cabello sat down for an interview with NBA superstar Jimmy Butler. The latter asked Cabello questions on behalf of Complex Magazine. The one that got the most attention, of course, was about Drizzy. “What’s the best thing about vacationing with Drake?,” Butler asked. Cabello giggled, before clarifying that they went on vacation to work on music together. “It was to finish our f*cking incredible banger,” she told the NBA player. “So productive.” Butler persisted, however, and asked Cabello once more what the highlight of the vacation was.
All snickering aside, Cabello cited the chance to work with one of her musical heroes. “I’ve been listening to Drake for so long,” she explained. “It’s great to get to know someone who you like, respect and admire from the outside. Then, you get to know them, and you have more respect and admiration.” The pop star also praised Drake’s personable nature during the recording sessions. “The kind of person they are, how they treat people,” she added. “Their generosity, their kindness.” Butler actually chimed in, claiming that Drake was a “good dude.”
Camila Cabello and Drake got along so well, in fact, they their plans to make one song turned into two. The former detailed this unplanned benefit during an interview with Billboard. “[The feature] came out of a non-transactional place,” she explained. “He had this idea of a song called ‘Hot Uptown,’ and it just felt like I was in the city. I was in Miami.” The second Drake feature is a solo interlude called “UUUGLY.” The singer told the outlet that she it made the final tracklist simply because she wanted to hear more Drake on her “own album.” Camila Cabello’s album, XOXO, is set for release on June 28.
The 2023/2024 NBA regular season had so many talking points. Worthy highlights include LeBron James hitting the 40,000 points mark, Victor Wembanyama’s introduction to the NBA, and Jalen Brunson’s impressive season, to name a few. However, while there is a long list of great moments in this NBA season, there have been some really outrageous ones, too. It was a season to forget for the Detroit Pistons, who lost 27 straight games. The Golden State Warriors failed to make it to the playoffs and may have come to the end of an era, while Kevin Durant and The Suns disappointed yet again. This has been an NBA Season full of drama, excitement, and a great deal of absurdity. Let’s relive the 2023/2024 NBA season’s most outrageous moments.
On Mar. 18, 2024, Orlando Magic played against the Toronto Raptors. Although the game didn’t have many eye-catching moments, what happened afterward had the internet talking. Two rookies from both teams, Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic and Gradey Dick of the Toronto Raptors met to exchange pleasantries after the game. However, amid the greetings, they plotted what would eventually become a viral basketball meme. The rookies agreed to exchange jerseys and pose for the camera after doing so. Why? Well, the names on their jerseys are Black and Dick. You need no more explanation but these rookies knew just what they were doing.
6. Jimmy Butler’s Look For NBA Media Day
Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler takes the NBA Media Day as a special holiday of some sort. Ahead of the 2023/2024 NBA season’s Media Day, Jimmy, in his true style, reinvented himself with a new look that left his teammates in stitches. The 34-year-old rocked a fully straightened hair that covered one of his eyes. He completed his rockstar appearance with eye, nose, and lip piercings. Jimmy also painted his nails to add color to his “emo” look. He sarcastically told a reporter that his look depicted his emotional state, adding, “I’m one with my emotions.” One can only wonder what new look Jimmy would serve for next season’s Media Day.
5. Robin Lopez Reads A Book Mid-Game After Being Traded By The Bucks
Robin Lopez suffered a terrible fate during the 2023/2024 NBA Season. Perhaps, the worst highlight of the season for him came in February during a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bucks traded Robin to the Sacramento Kings ahead of the game but he was expected to be waived by the Kings to become a free agent. Being inactive after the trade, Robin chose to watch the Bucks against the Timberwolves. He sat courtside, but rather than watch the game’s proceedings, he read a book. Robin concentrated on the pages of Backstory 2: Interviews With Screenwriters Of The 1940s And 1950s by Patrick McGilligan. It was a moment that shocked many NBA fans who could hardly believe their eyes.
4. Antman Hits His Head On The Rim After A Game-Winning Block
Anthony Edwards enjoyed an incredibly successful NBA season. He had many highlights and led his team to the Western Conference finals. One of the moments that defined Antman’s season was his gravity-defying block during the Timberwolves’ 113-111 win against the Indiana Pacers in March. Anthony showed his outrageous athleticism with a spectacular block on Aaron Nesmith’s layup attempt at the buzzer to earn his team the win. The Timberwolves star rose so high to make the block that he hit his head on the rim, contributing to an awkward landing. Rather than lay on the floor, Antman rose to his feet immediately, and chest-bumped his teammate Rudy Gobert, before flexing his muscles in celebration. After the game, Anthony admitted he had never jumped that high. He also declared that he was a tough dude with a high pain tolerance level.
3. Mike Brown Gets Ejected After Confronting Referee
When referees make questionable calls during games, they infuriate players and coaches alike. Sometimes, these players or coaches lose their cool, leading to aggressive behavior on their part. That was certainly the case when Sacramento Kings’ coach Mike Brown squared up to a referee during a game against the Bucks in January. Referee Intae Hwang made a call that displeased Mike, who stormed into the court and began screaming at and charging toward him. Mike’s players had to restrain him and he was subsequently ejected. The NBA fined Mike $50,000 for “aggressively pursuing a game official during live play, and for publicly criticizing the officiating.” During the postgame press conference, Coach Mike Brown brought out a laptop to show just how inconsistent the officials were.
2. Draymond Green Swings & Hits Jusuf Nurkic In The Face
Draymond Green was already notorious for his unsportsmanlike behavior. However, he unraveled in the 2023/2024 NBA season, taking his antics to unprecedented levels. In November, Draymond received a five-match ban after he put Rudy Gobert in a headlock. One would have thought the Golden State Warriors center would learn his lesson from that incident. Instead, he progressed to even more shocking behavior a month later when the Warriors faced the Phoenix Suns. Draymond and Jusuf Nurkic were tangled during a play after which the former lost his balance a little bit. In a bid to regain his balance, Draymond mysteriously turned around and swung at Jusuf, hitting him in the face and earning an ejection. Following the incident, the NBA suspended Draymond indefinitely. He missed 16 games as a result and returned in January after completing steps that demonstrated his commitment to playing according to required NBA standards.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Ball Controversy
The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers engaged in a great rivalry this NBA season. The peak of the teams’ rivalry came in December when the Bucks defeated the Pacers 140-126. Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoyed a great game and scored a career-high and franchise-record 64 points. However, the game ended bizarrely for the Greek Freak, who searched for the game ball so he could keep it as a memento after his record-breaking exploits. Giannis learned the Pacers possessed the game ball and he charged toward their locker room with so much rage. Reports revealed the Pacers wanted to keep the ball for their rookie, Oscar Tshiebwe, who made his first regular season basket during the game.
Giannis’ teammates and security tried in vain to hold him back. Eventually, the situation calmed after the Bucks’ security staff reportedly secured the ball Giannis badly wanted. However, during the postgame presser, the two-time MVP said he doubted if the ball given to him was the game ball. He said, “I have a ball, but I don’t know if it’s the game ball. It doesn’t feel like the game ball to me.”
Following a disappointing season, the Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up for a major offseason. With only Joel Embiid and Paul Reed having contracts until the summer, the team is likely to invest heavily in Tyrese Maxey to support their MVP Embiid. The organization has significant financial resources this summer and is reportedly eyeing a potential reunion with Miami’s superstar, Jimmy Butler. The organization would be willing and able to offer Jimmy Butler a max deal should the Miami Heat trade him. They wouldn’t mind spending it on an old friend, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Jimmy Butler played for the Sixers in the past. Many feel like it was a mistake to let him go in favor of Ben Simmons. All in all, Butler may be headed back to his old stomping grounds. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “The Sixers view him as a fallback option if they are unable to sign Paul George in free agency. And, according to sources, the Sixers are prepared to give Butler a maximum-salary extension if things align and he forces a trade out of Miami.”
Butler finds himself in an odd situation where he can sign a two-year maximum deal but cannot become a free agent until the following summer. In spite of this, Pat Riley gave the impression that he is not in a rush to try to move Butler or to pay his All-Star guard, who turns 35 in September. Jimmy Butler is in control of the situation. He might decide to apply some pressure to the organization to trade him.
The fact that Butler, of course, was a player for the Sixers before the organization acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves after he forced his way out heightens the intrigue surrounding this situation. However, following that year, he became a free agent and was sent to Miami in a sign-and-trade. Nevertheless, he only played 55 games and went on one playoff run with the franchise. Over the years, Embiid and Butler have continued to be complimentary to one another, even after he departed the club. Overall, we could see Jimmy Butler return to Philly and try and win a championship with Embiid.
Jimmy Butler missed the Miami Heat’s first-round playoff matchup with the Boston Celtics after suffering an injury in the Play-in against the Sixers. The Miami Heat went on to get eliminated by the Celtics 4 games to 1 as they struggled to generate any offense. The Heat were the 8-seed once again. Last Year, they were the 8-seed and went all the way to the NBA finals, ultimately losing to the Denver Nuggets. Jimmy Butler has recently made some comments about the playoff field, saying if he was healthy, it would be a different story. Miami Heat boss Pat Riley thinks Butler shouldn’t be talking.
Butler made some comments over the weekend about the Boston Celtics. Butler said of the number 1-seed in the east, “If I was playing, Boston would be at home.” He continued calling out the New York Knicks, saying, “New York damn sure would be (expletive) at home.” It’s tough talk from Butler, whose MCL injury sidelined him in the playoffs. Pat Riley, not one for nonsense or woulda-coulda-shoulda talk, did not like the comments at all.
“For him to say that, I thought, ‘Is that Jimmy [Butler] trolling, or is that Jimmy serious’… If you’re not on the court playing, you should keep your mouth shut.”
Pat Riley on Jimmy saying Boston would’ve lost if he played
Asked about Butler’s remarks on Monday, Riley made it clear he did not think the comments were funny at all. “For him to say that, I thought, ‘Is that Jimmy trolling, or is that Jimmy serious?’” Riley said during his end-of-season press conference. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut.” It’s unnecessary comments that only serve as fuel for the other teams. Pat Knows that the important talking goes on on the court, and Jimmy Butler isnt playing, so he should be quiet.
The Jimmy Butler era in Miami might be over. There is speculation that his time is up in Miami, and with teams looking for an all-star wing, he is wanted elsewhere. Butler could reunite with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. All in all, Miami doesn’t do funny business. Pat Riely doesn’t allow players to become distractions. No one is bigger than the organization, and this is a firm reminder of that.
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat fell to the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid last night in the NBA play-in tournament. Butler suffered a painful-looking injury at the end of the first quarter but miraculously played the rest of the game. He was obviously hampered by the injury and unable to affect the game. Despite his injury, the Heat almost beat the Sixers, losing 105 – 104 in a close game. The Sixers secured a playoff spot and will face the New York Knicks. The Miami Heat will face the Chicago Bulls on Friday for the final playoff spot in the east.
The Heat struggle offensively, and scoring the basketball will only be harder without Butler. The Heat had success early against Embiid, and the Sixers played fantastic defense. Particularly, they deployed a zone that confused and caused some bad turnovers from Embiid, who is still getting up to speed after being injured. It is still possible for the Heat to make the playoffs. it will be tough against the Chicago Bulls, who beat the Atlanta Hawks 131-116.
Jimmy Butler Is Out Indefinitely After an MCL Injury
The expectation is Miami’s Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury. https://t.co/dEDMAuuXuN
Jimmy Butler is feared to have sustained an MCL injury last night. Butler was writhing in pain at the end of the first quarter. It looked like he would definitely have to leave the game, but he played the rest of the game. It’s very on-brand for Butler, whose whole persona is that he is built differently and played through such an injury. But that toughness may have made the injury worse, and now he will not only miss the final play-in game on Friday but will be out for multiple weeks.
The Heat have a tough task ahead of them. They will play the Bulls on Friday, who defeated the Hawks last night. The Bulls were led by an incredible performance from Coby White. White finished the game with 42 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Heat struggle to put points on the board, and they are going to face a team that just scored 131 points. Jimmy Butler will be sidelined indefinitely. The Heat might beat the Bulls and make the playoffs. But Butler will likely not be available for the first-round matchup against the Celtics.
Jimmy Butler has once again debuted his emo look, this time for a cameo in a Fall Out Boy video. Butler, complete with his emo hair, stars as a bedazzled cowboy in the video for the newly released “So Much (For) Stardust”. Butler dances, lip-syncs, and eventually summons Pete Wentz from a bedazzled Magic 8 ball. It’s a truly bizarre, but not welcome, return of Butler’s alter ego.
Butler first debuted his emo look at a preseason media day for the Heat last October. After he simply declared that “I’m emo”, Butler proceeded to give a very standard press conference appearance about his expectations for the season as the Heat tried to run it back after reaching the Finals in 2023. The look was then parodied by Shaq during the Halloween episode of Inside The NBA‘s Halloween episode at the end of the month.
Jimmy Butler Earns Suspension For Role In Pels Fight
Meanwhile, Butler, Naji Marshall, and Nikola Jovic will be suspended for a game while Jose Alvarado and Thomas Bryant will miss three games for their respective roles in the brawl that broke out at Heat-Pelicans on Friday night. Alvarado and Bryant’s punishments were deemed more severe due to the pair reigniting tensions between the teams after the original scuffle had died down. Despite this, fans will note that Draymond Green still received a larger suspension for placing Rudy Gobert in a chokehold earlier in the season. Green missed five games for that incident. Fans will likely soon voice their distaste for the league’s double standard as news of the suspensions begins to spread.
However, Butler argued that he didn’t think his actions warranted a suspension. Furthermore, he accused Williamson of flopping, causing the whole debacle to begin with. Meanwhile, Williamson appeared to place the blame on Butler. “I wasn’t tripping about K-Love because he actually protected me on my fall. All of a sudden I see Butler kind of lunging toward Naji. So I’m trying to get there like, ‘Yo, relax, like what’s going on?’” Williamson said.
A visit to any of the various stats websites that use the official headshots from each season will provide a reminder of Butler’s emo look from before the season, as it really is a great bit from him. However, it appears there was more to this season’s look than just having some fun with what he’ll look like in lineup cards and on stats websites.
On Wednesday, Fall Out Boy released a new music video for their song “So Much (For) Stardust” that features Jimmy Butler (in his emo cut) wearing a bedazzled purple suit and cowboy hat, dancing in snakeskin boots alongside Pete Wentz (dressed in the same thing, but silver). That’s literally the entire 4-minute video, just a couple guys being dudes in jazzy cowboy outfits singing and dancing along to the song. It’s good timing to put out a music video featuring Butler, as he and the Heat are riding a hot streak currently, winning five straight and seven of their last eight to climb into a tie for the 5-seed in the East with Philadelphia.
Jimmy Butler is one of five players suspended after a brawl that involved his Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Butler is suspended one game after he was shocked by Pelicans’ forward Naji Marshall, also suspended one game for “instigating and engaging in” the scuffle.
Additional players suspended are Heat center Thomas Bryant and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado for leaving the bench during the incident. They both receive three game suspensions.
Miami forward Nikola Jovic received a game for leaving the bench.
According to ESPN, the incident started after a foul between Kevin Love and Zion Williamson.
Miami HEAT coach Erik Spoelstra was vocal about the suspension, stating, “It felt like Jimmy shouldn’t have gotten a game on that.”
