Fansided

Every NBA team’s biggest celebrity fan

By Brendon Kleen

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 22: Beyonce and Jay Z laugh during the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 22: Beyonce and Jay Z laugh during the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 21: Rapper Lil’ Wayne performs during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 21: Rapper Lil’ Wayne performs during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Pelicans: Lil Wayne

If you’re reading this, you probably consider yourself a fan of some team. There is some gesture you have made to that team, maybe a tattoo or a big purchase, that you feel puts you above the other fans of your team. You see fandom in some small part as a competition. It’s been ingrained in us to treat fandom as transactional and competitive. Transactional in that the team does something for us and we respond by giving them a little time and money in return. Competitive in that we’re always striving to be the biggest and loudest fans. These two categories of fandom are why celebrities so easily carry more sway than an average joe. I’d be willing to bet that none of us have done so much to win the competitive portion of fandom than Lil Wayne, who spent the second night after his release from Rikers Island at a Hornets-Heat game in November 2010.

Asked why he returned to New Orleans after his release despite living elsewhere during his rise to fame and with so many opportunities across the country, Wayne said simply that being in the city, around the community “felt like home”. He was embraced and welcomed by Chris Paul that night, before Paul had left the city. He was optimistic about the team, just as he was probably pretty optimistic about life in general at that point in his journey. If you haven’t crossed the country the day after you were released from prison to hug your team’s point guard and tell reporters your team was going to have a great season, I’m afraid you can’t compete with Lil Wayne’s fandom.

Sadly, the rapper has spent much more time in Los Angeles over the past several years, leading to far too many Staples Center appearances. What’s weird is that it’s not even to support Paul, who was traded to the Clippers about a year after Wayne was released. He mostly shows up to Lakers games, probably out of respect, like just about every rapper ever, for Kobe Bryant. Maybe he’s such an infrequent guest that he doesn’t even realize Bryant retired over a year ago.

Wherever Wayne goes, he’s likely to get pretty fired up. It’s this tendency that led to his ejection from a Lakers-Heat game in 2013, after which he ranted to All-Star Weekend attendees about his mistreatment by the league, and why it all had happened. According to Wayne, all he had done was cheer for the Lakers at a game apparently biased toward Miami. He told the All-Star audience it might have also had something to do with his relationship with forward Chris Bosh’s wife. Whew.

It’s good for excitable people to channel their energy into sports. We’re happy to have Lil Wayne in the NBA. But he should definitely stick to the Pelicans.

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