We’ve seen Shaq, Kobe, Allen Iverson and Damian Lillard all take stabs at doing music. Now Charlotte Hornets rising star Miles Bridges is up next and Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green says he’s one of the best lyricists in the league. (Yes, that’s a real category now.)
Nah Miles Bridges bars are crazyy for an NBA player 😭 pic.twitter.com/TPzVg1SVjH
— KiLBJJ ʰᶦᵐ (@KiLBJJ) February 27, 2022
Green went as far as to call Bridges, who goes by the stage name of “RTB MB,’” one of the two best fire spitters in the league along with, D.O.L.L.A aka Damian Lillard.
The loquacious Green, and supe-athletic Bridges recently chopped it up on “The Draymond Green Podcast,” where they discussed how Bridges got into rapping and where he ranks himself.
— Rust 𖣘 (@wustdontmiss) February 26, 2022
“I’m gonna rank myself number one, you know? I don’t want Dame to try to get no rap beef with me … I definitely think I’m number one. Dame got a great sound, he’s very lyrical.”
Green typically wasn’t going to let Bridges say that and not stir the pot. The heart and soul of the Warriors was talking really greasy and sounding more like a boxing promoter than a basketball player.
“Dame, he don’t want that smoke D.O.L.L.A., he don’t want that smoke D.O.L.L.A.,” Draymond insisted. “He saw what you to Shaq. He don’t want that smoke.”
Bridges gave Dame his due and also mixed in some other NBA youngsters he considers lyrical assassins of sorts.
“I have to say myself, Dame, DBaze, he alright but Anthony Edwards, he’s pretty good too. Yeah, y’all got to get hip to him. He’s pretty good.”
Don’t get me wrong Miles and Dame nice as hell. But I think I got um beat https://t.co/svGYcVzoXF
— Bazley (@BazleyDarius) February 26, 2022
Lillard And O’Neal Had NBA Rap Beef: Both Spit Flames, It Was All In Fun
The battle/beef began in 2019, while Lillard was a guest on “The Joe Budden Podcast.” Dame was asked to compare his rap career to the very successful run Shaq enjoyed in the 1990s. Never one to lack confidence, Dame responded as only he could.
“I think I rap better than Shaq. I’ve heard Shaq’s stuff,” Lillard said. “I think he was viewed as Shaq, though. It wasn’t like, Shaq and Biggie. People weren’t looking like this a real rapper. It was like that’s Shaq rapping. So, of course it was a big deal.”
Of course, the “Big Aristotle” didn’t take too kindly to the words spewed by Dame, and he retaliated with a well-executed diss record via his Instagram page. From there, the two traded barbs and disses for awhile.
Shaq dropped a 4-minute diss track on Damian Lillard!
Legendary I'm a hip hop scholar
I'm tryin' to get a billion who gives a f**k about a D.O.L.L.ATake ya time to respond, there's no hurry
You’ll never be Westbrook, never be Steph Curry pic.twitter.com/oKQSBSeo27— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) October 1, 2019
After weeks of back and forth dissing, the two called a truce with O’Neal ending the mini-rap feud and telling Rolling Stone:
“The thing that went on for me and him was just for fun. I think he’s really, really good, and he’s very talented. We had fun.
“We all come from the same place. My thing is if you say you’re better than me, I accept the challenge. If he says I look better than you, then okay I gotta hit the gym and work out. If he says my shoes are whiter than yours, then I gotta to go the store and pick out a better pair. Other people take that stuff personally but I don’t. If you challenge me, I’ll step up to the challenge.”
READ: Shaq Spits Fire At Dame D.O.L.L.A. Who Responds With A Light Flame – The Shadow League
Dame D.O.L.L.A. Obliterates Rookie Marvin Bagley III In Battle
The Shaq battle was tempered, and the respect Dame had for Shaq was evident, but the Portland Trailblazers’ franchise player took the gloves off in a 2019 battle with fellow NBA player Marvin Bagley III.
It all started on First Take.
Are we gonna see Marvin Bagley III and @Dame_Lillard go bar for bar on First Take one of these days?@MB3FIVE is ready whenever :eyes: pic.twitter.com/6bITh8kX86
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 20, 2019
Dame is never one to back down from a challenge and released some heat during draft night.
Bagley fired back.
The consensus was that Lillard dragged him. Bridges might not be as easy a lick if he attacks a potential battle against Dame with the same fervor with which he’s attacked the hardwood.
Bridges Earning A Big Payday This Season: Air BNB Connection Is A Must See Nightly
The former Michigan State product has looked like a cornerstone piece that Michael Jordan should do whatever it takes to keep. Bridges, LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr. have all shined for the young upstart “Buzz City Hornets.” That “Air BNB” reference is to Ball and Bridges connecting on those nightly high wired acts above the rim.
LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges already have an elite connection.
This duo is must-see TV 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/1asTN7gBDB
— Hilltop Hoops (@HilltopNBA) February 4, 2021
Averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal per game, the physically gifted MB0 has earned himself a big pay raise this offseason.
Maybe getting distracted and even destroyed by Dame wouldn’t be a good look, but the competition on the court or on wax is always great promotion for the NBA. It’s what makes NBA culture so unique and so effortlessly able to attract the younger generation.
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