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NBA Playoff Playlists: What Players Listen to Before They Take the Court
April 16, 2015
Before NBA players hit the court for some of the biggest games of their careers, they need to get in the zone, and sometimes noise-canceling headphones and their favorite music is the best way to do that.
We recently learned what NBA players from playoff teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards, were listening to for inspiration and energy before games.
Not surprisingly, hip-hop appears to have a commanding lead on all other genres of pregame music. Give them a listen for yourself below. (Warning: Some songs contain NSFW lyrics.)
Atlanta Hawks
Jeff Teague
"Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)" - Big Sean
"10 Bands" - Drake
"Ain't It Fun" - Paramore
Kent Bazemore
"6 Man" - Drake
"Allure" - Jay Z
"All Day" - Kanye West ft. Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney
Mike Muscala
"More Than a Miracle" - MNEK
"Be Real" - Kid Ink ft. DeJ Loaf
"Used To" - Drake
Mike Scott
Future
Big Sean
Johnny Cinco
Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green
"Drinks on Us" – Mike Will Made It ft. The Weeknd, Swae Lee and Future
"Flicka Da Wrist" – Chedda Da Connect
"10 Bands" - Drake
Justin Holiday
"Know Yourself" - Drake
"10 Bands" - Drake
"I'm Turnt" – Lecrae
Harrison Barnes
"King Kunta" – Kendrick Lamar
"Fire Squad" – J. Cole
"G.O.M.D." – J. Cole
Memphis Grizzlies
Courtney Lee
"Stay Loyal" - Nipsey Hussle
"Ball Drop" – Fabolous ft. French Montana
"Legend" - Drake
"When We Ride On Our Enemies" - 2Pac
"Picture Me Rollin'" - 2Pac
Kosta Koufos
"Headlines" - Drake
"No Tellin'" - Drake
"Energy" - Drake
"It Was a Good Day" - Ice Cube
"String Quartet No. 14 in G" - Mozart
"Blessings" - Big Sean ft. Drake and Kanye West
"Alright" - Kendrick Lamar
"Champion" - Kanye West
Tony Allen
"10 Bands" - Drake
"No Tellin'" - Drake
"Know Yourself" - Drake
Portland Trail Blazers
"Closer" - Goapele
"Daughters" - Nas
"I Ain't No Joke" - Eric B. and Rakim
C.J. McCollum
"Blessings" - Big Sean ft. Drake and Kanye West
"Alright" - Kendrick Lamar
"One Mic" - Nas
Meyers Leonard
"Lay It On Me" - Dylan Scott
"Energy" - Drake
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" - Billy Joel
Toronto Raptors
DeMar DeRozan
"Hood Politics" – Kendrick Lamar
"Legend" – Drake
"Backseat Freestyle" – Kendrick Lamar
"Takeover" – Jay Z
"Straight Outta Compton" – N.W.A.
Jonas Valanciunas
"Know Yourself" – Drake
"6 Man" – Drake
"0 to 100" – Drake
"Started from the Bottom" – Drake
"Straight Outta Compton" – N.W.A.
Terrence Ross
"Hood Politics" – Kendrick Lamar
"King Kunta" – Kendrick Lamar
"Know Yourself" - Drake
Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal
"Here I Come" - The Roots
"Go Hard or Go Home" - Wiz Khalifa and Iggy Azalea
"How We Roll (Fast Five Remix)" - Don Omar ft. Busta Rhymes, Reek da Villian and J-Doe
"Dangerous" - David Guetta ft. Sam Martin
"Ride Out" - Kid Ink, Tyga, Wale, YG, Rich Homie Quan
Kevin Seraphin
"Power" - Kanye West
"Heart of Courage" - Two Steps from Hell
"Rise and Shine" - J. Cole
"Lights On" - Trip Lee
"Blame" - Calvin Harris ft. John Newman
Otto Porter
"m.A.A.d City" - Kendrick Lamar
"We Be On It" - DeJ Loaf
"C.U.B.A." - Calvin Harris
"Outside" - Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding
Thanks to the NBA for sharing the playlists.