Lil Wayne Ranks Kevin Durant Number One Rapper Among Athletes

Rapper Lil Wayne has ranked NBA star Kevin Durant as the top athlete-turned-rapper, placing him ahead of established figures in the music industry. During an appearance on the podcast The Joint Venture Show, Lil Wayne identified the two-time NBA champion as his number one choice among athletes who have explored hip-hop, HITC reported.

Lil Wayne’s Ranking of Athlete-Rappers

The list provided by Lil Wayne prioritized Durant over several other prominent athletes known for their musical pursuits. The rankings placed Shaquille O’Neal, Damian Lillard, Lou Williams, and LiAngelo Ball below the current Phoenix Suns forward. According to Lil Wayne, his confidence in the selection stems from personal collaboration, as the two have recorded music together, though the tracks remain unreleased.

I was saving number one for KD. I was saving it. I didn’t know if you were going to come at me with that one.

Lil Wayne, The Joint Venture Show

Kevin Durant’s Musical Output

While professional basketball remains the primary focus of his career, Kevin Durant has maintained a documented interest in the music industry. In 2024, he released the track Sacred Money, which served as a public demonstration of his rapping ability. Beyond his solo work, Durant has reportedly collaborated with LeBron James on three unreleased rap songs.

The praise from Lil Wayne highlights the intersection of Durant’s high-profile athletic career and his creative ambitions. While many athletes engage in music as a secondary pursuit, the validation from a veteran artist like Lil Wayne suggests a level of technical dedication to the craft that extends beyond casual interest. As Durant enters his 20th season in the NBA, his ability to balance elite athletic performance—exemplified by his 15-point showing in 23 minutes during a recent preseason game in Macau—with extracurricular projects continues to draw industry attention.