Comparing Top 10 NBA Starting Point Guards to Most Popular Hip Hop Artists

There is no shortage of supportive forces for the men and women of both the hip hop world and the professional sports atmosphere. Both are skyrocketing to epic proportions as far as influence on all ages is concerned, and the lines between the two are consistently being blurred.

With iconic figures of both pro sports and hip hop merging to form powerhouses that will overshadow the efforts of solo projects, or in basketball smaller market franchises, the similarities only grow stronger in comparison.

Musical camps such as RocNation and Young Money quake the hip hop prophecies, as players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade form a duo in South Beach that seems to set the blueprint for the rest of the teams in the league forced to figure out a quick solution to losing repeatedly in the postseason. Each point guard in the league, however, shares an uncanny resemblance to a hip hop star in their prime, one in recovery, on the outs or on the rise.

Whether the parallels are grand or mediocre, they remain.

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Stephen Curry and J. Cole

Stephen Curry was placed with Golden State beside Monta Ellis, who was already considered the team’s leading man. The friction between the two started early, mainly due to Ellis’ comments about management bringing Curry into the franchise in the first place. Yet, the tension soon simmered, and fans are presented one of the most productive offensive backcourts in the league, if the duo is not standing at number one.

However, it never seems to be the right moment for Curry to shine and stand in his own spotlight. Ellis will always be the team’s primary scorer, and while Curry is just as productive with his jumper, it may never trump his predecessor’s contribution to a game. The young point guard is still being molded in his position as he begins to find comfort shooting off the drive instead of always going onto the perimeter, where it is pretty hard to create offense for his teammates.

He shows spurts of potential, but the public has yet to see a true moment of burst and arrival from the guard.

J.Cole is a mature yet youthful and honest artist emerging from behind JayZ’s RocNation. His mixtapes are just a taste of what the emcee is going to be able to do; however, those are the only things that fans of his music have to mention. The free music is a great addition to an artist’s repertoire. Still, it refuses to grant the listener the most intimate glimpses into the hard work a rapper puts in during the making and release of an actual album.

Features are great, but we are all still sitting back anticipating his Cole World: The Sideline Story project that is long overdue. Until then, we will relinquish our ears to his mixtapes and features while yearning for a better effort. 

John Wall and Big Sean

John Wall brings about the entertaining youth aspect of the game. He reminds everyone of what it is like to truly enjoy playing the game even though his team had the worst road record this season. The Washington Wizards may not have been the greatest team in the Eastern Conference and may not have even made it to the postseason, but you remember his name if no one else’s.

Not Rookie of the Year, but his performance as a newcomer in the NBA should grant much needed recognition. Wall and his occasional dance performances are in a league of their own, but do not let the grandeur overshadow the actual accomplishments like his 16.4 points per and 8.3 assists per.

He has just begun making his mark. Big Sean may not have been the VMA’s Best New Artist, but he has just started weaving through the obstacles to greatness.

As a man of Detroit personality and originality, Sean walks into a room with an outfit that may supersede all expectations of a kid from the big city. Setting his own trends and even starting one of the most popular turn in lyrics in hip hop, he gives his hometown something to smile about.

Kanye West did not pick him up for any reason other than he has the ambition of someone who thinks he can reach Mars. His album did not set records; however, do not allow that to deter you from supporting such an influential upcoming hip hop artist. Mark my word that he will be a force to be reckoned with. Still being seasoned by those who came before him, Big Sean is the emcee of the future. 

Chauncey Billups and Andre 3000

Chauncey Billups is one of the treasures of the league. His career is far from over, and besides his injury that kept him out of this year’s postseason, Billups has been the second most influential person on any team he has been on, including the New York Knicks.

Both Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony are great at what they do, but the former Denver point guard’s ability and willingness to take the big shot is what makes him less of a liability and such a grand asset for the New York franchise.

Everyone was entirely too focused on the Anthony piece of the deal that no one realized how grateful the Knicks should have been for being on the receiving end of Billups ability. “Mr. Big Shot” remains a pillar in the fundamentals of the game and does everything necessary to keep his team afloat. His age or time spent in the league means nothing when he sparks the game-winning play, something that he has not lost the energy or drive to do.

Andre 3000 is a gem in hip hop. He may not put out single after single…..after single. However, when he does show up, it is in ways that makes listeners stand back in awe. Sprouting from his roots in the group Outkast with rapper Big Boi, Andre has always been known for his originality and quirky play on words. No matter how odd the compilation, his stars always manage to grow aligned to form timeless music. 

Russell Westbrook and Wale Folarin

Russell Westbrook’s skills as a point guard are not similar to much that the NBA has seen, unless you count the surge of Derrick Rose in the 2010 season. Westbrook, having never played the point before his career began with the Oklahoma City Thunder, has adjusted well under the circumstances.

It was predicted that he would be a successful wing man to Kevin Durant, but the things he can do athletically with the rock in his hand was unforeseen. Still, he encounters the talk that he will not survive in the Thunder franchise because of his willingness to take the big shot.

On another squad, such as the Chicago Bulls, it would be detrimental to the health of the team if he did not have the ability to rise to the quaking deciding moments of a game. Although there are moments in a game where Durant is allotted the opportunity to go 7-of-22 in a Finals series against the Dallas Mavericks, Westbrook can score six more points and have both better field goal and free throw percentages and be ridiculed for not giving up more shot opportunities in favor of Durant.

Sometimes players have off days, but the Robin of the team is often criticized for trying to overshadow the cast’s leading man. His supposed arrogance halts his own production on the court. Or so THEY say. What do THEY know anyway?

Wale Folarin was not supposed to approach hip hop in the cocky, self-serving manner he did, yet his mixtapes do ridiculous numbers whenever they are released. His lyrics should not have such an impact on the generation of music he speaks to. But, they remain relevant.

Wale is a different type of rapper than those we have seen grow in the ranks lately. He does not hop around to rock music, nor does he pretend to be the Anti-Christ. Wale is not the emcee that will conform his abilities to suit the wants and needs of those who would rather not listen anyway. He is who he is simply because he is willing to go that extra mile without stepping outside of himself. Mr. Folarin refuses too much change but welcomes growth.

He and Westbrook may be doubted but by scripting their own future they hold the opportunity of functioning towards success under their own terms. 

Rajon Rondo and Drake

Not only was Rajon Rondo placed into an already formed dynasty, but he was forced to play beside men who had already established chemistry with one another. Rondo was the guy that had to prove himself amongst Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Sure, the threesome may have not been together for extremely long, but they were stamped with the approval of the Boston fans, something that many will tell you is a hard job to do amongst such passionate and demanding fans.

At first glance, the newest addition was arrogant and hardheaded. Until he forced himself to reach the potential that everyone around him, including The Big Three and Coach Doc Rivers, knew he could exhibit. Already a raw talent, Rondo has been molded into the hard-hitting, determined guard sensation he is today. He did not just sprout from the depths of the hardwood. Neither did Drake.

People assume that because people just began paying attention to how skilled the singer/rapper from Toronto was that he popped up from out of nowhere. The truth is that Drake has been grinding towards this point in his career since his days as Jimmy the Wheelchair kid in Degrassi.

His potential has yet to be reached, as he is placed in an elite group that sometimes overshadows his personal abilities as a storyteller. Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj have drawn forth a lot of the spotlight because they hold the ability to draw everyone’s attention in a room with words. Yet, Drake holds his own and emerged a couple of years ago as the man that everyone should know. 

Deron Williams and TI

Does Deron Williams have what it takes to be named the best point guard in the league right now? Or is he just a product of an ill-equipped environment? Every time it seems as if Williams has risen to his potential, there is some kind of distraction within his squad, team management or just the spark of new competition that makes him less relevant than he had been a short while before.

After winning the argument of who’s the better guard between him and Chris Paul, there were more athletic guards introduced to the league who were more explosive and inclined for a top play than Williams had been. Then what happened? The former Utah guard was pushed back into the talks of midrange guards that were not quite relevant enough to be called great, but good enough for fantasy drawings.

 You cannot go wrong with Williams, but it seems that the public perception is he has not scraped the marker yet.

Rapper Clifford Harris, better known as TIP or T.I., experiences such similar shakes of relevance. Not that when he releases a single it is not considered great "kickback" material. However, there is always someone a few steps ahead of him or someone fresh in hip hop to turn listeners’ heads in the direction of. He has been releasing adequate material for far too long to not be considered one of the great rappers of our time, yet with the arrival of artists like Nicki Minaj, Drake and J. Cole, people tend to forget about his contributions to the game and the strides the South has made throughout.

T.I . is elite, but sometimes, fans tend to forget. 

Steve Nash and Eminem

Steven Nash coasted past his prime long ago. At least that is what people are saying. The shaky status of the Phoenix Suns relays onto what viewers think of him and the thought that he may be on the downward spiral of his career is just general consensus. That is, until he pulls another amazing game out of nowhere and renews everyone’s true feelings about his talent.

Nash is a great point guard, and the rumors of switching him to another position are ludicrous. No matter what fans may begin to feel about this player, they must remember what he has been able to do and who he has been surrounded with when he made these strides in the league.

He may not be the flashiest, but Nash plays with the most heart and dirty work attitude ever seen by a guard. Never swayed by the celebrity of his name, Nash never grows beyond the team mentality, and that is what makes him such a great athlete and basketball player.

Eminem was addicted to drugs and washed up; at least that is the way some people told it. He would never be able to top anything he did in the past. His best moments were under the influence, and there is no way he could come back and shock us all. That was the quote of the day until he came back and shocked us all.

 Eminem’s verse in Forever was what everyone had been waiting for, and although he never hops on stage with the flashy apparel of some emcees or the flamboyant jewelry that a majority of successful rappers don, it makes his message no more watered down than some of the greatest lyrics performed in the last 10 years. 

Derrick Rose and Lil Wayne

Derrick Rose "rose" to the occasion on almost everyone’s terms, including the strenuous circumstances placed on him by his opponents. The stronger the better in the third year point guard’s eyes because it would just give him another highlight reel to add to his resume for the MVP of the regular season.

There is no one in their right mind with a tad bit of knowledge about the game who can dispute his contributions to the present-day resurgence of the Chicago Bulls. Just like no one can sustain an argument fueled by doubts of Lil Wayne’s drive or ambition.

Wayne is not just the pick of the moment in hip hop. The attention he draws does not come across without merit. Wayne has some of the most insane work ethic, and it will take every ounce of his growing talent to steadily climb the ladder to perfection that some believe he will never reach. While he is crowned by most, there are still some that stand by on the sidelines, calling him overrated and naming other emcees that deserve the credit of the throne ahead of him.

Rose faced this exact same criticism during his crowning as the regular season MVP and throughout the playoffs when he was stopped in his tracks by LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

What some may not fathom about these two iconic figures is that neither is willing to throw in the towel just because of a few naysayers and salt thrown on their accomplishments. Losing is not a valid option. 

Chris Paul and Kanye West

When Watch The Throne was released, Kanye West was propelled back into the spotlight not too long after being ridiculed and praised for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. At the same time he was being questioned about his artistic prowess, he was being taunted for being so exploratory with his music and his visions.

Yet, he remains a vital piece of music in our generation and has had a steady output of singles that people stand by as some of the greatest they had heard in a while. When Mr. West debuted, he had a spotlight on him that no one was quite prepared for, especially after the accident that almost ended his life.

His trials throughout his career have been inspirational and awe-striking, as have Chris Paul’s early dealings of struggle as a professional basketball player. Without being in the designated No. 1 spot, Paul has had to manage the public perception of how important he is the New Orleans Hornets, while balancing a winning record and the early results of Hurricane Katrina.

His rookie season was tumultuous in the fact that he was forced to play in another city than his own, or at least the franchise’s designated location. Paul puts out a steady combination of points and numbers for his organization, yet he remains without tangible proof that he is one of the greatest at his craft. 

Tony Parker and JayZ

This may be a comparison that strikes the world as odd; however, when exploring Tony Parker’s history in the league and JayZ’s history in hip hop and the accomplishments each has had the pleasures of conquering, you will think much differently.

JayZ stands at the top of his game at the moment. There is and has been no one that could remove him from his spot of excellence, and his reputation comes with a grain of respect that no one else in music experiences at this time. Parker’s abilities in the San Antonio Spurs franchise has allowed him to sit pretty in the top ten discussion for longer than a while.

Mr. Carter walked away from the game various times but can still hop right back into it as the main topic of discussion just as if he had never left. Parker is aging, yet his talents refuse to be extinguished, as he continues to be a steady pillar and example of what a righteous professional point guard is supposed to be.

Parker’s highlights are timeless as are albums like The Black Album, American Gangster and BP3.