Every NBA team’s biggest celebrity fan

Atlanta Hawks: 2 Chainz

Before I tell you anything about the 2 Chainz-Hawks connection, we need to look at the co-branded merchandise that team and rapper put out last year. On Dec. 30 of last year, 2 Chainz collaborated with the Hawks to give out a t-shirt/mixtape combination to the first 5,000 fans at a home game against the Pistons. I can’t decide if the shirt itself, or the fact that 2 Chainz convinced Atlanta to pass out his mixtape for free, is funnier.

The shirt features an animated hawk, who is supposed to be the team’s mascot, Skyhawk, fist up and Mario-jumping into the sky. It says “hit dem folks” in big white letters; this is I guess a thing that 2Chainz says in songs and really likes to put on merchandise. I honestly cannot think of a more appropriate way to use 2Chainz as a promotional figure for your basketball team.

The rapper has performed at Hawks games frequently over the past few seasons, which is pretty common in Atlanta. Not common anywhere, though, is when those performers start to flex on the basketball court. 2Chainz is a former high school basketball player with decent shooting form and A+ length. He likes to warm up with the Hawks:

In 2015, determined to prove his worth on the court, the rapper challenged Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins to a game of HORSE. You may have heard about this on Twitter, but what you may not have realized is that while Wilkins won as expected, he played the game in BUSINESS CASUAL. Dude is out there in a button-up and trousers running circles around Mr. Chainz. Sad!

The Hawks started using “True to Atlanta” as a slogan recently, and partnerships like the one with 2 Chainz are perfect toward that end. There are so many Atlanta celebrities, but they found the right one.