“My biggest inspiration on the court has always been Kobe Bryant. I love every aspect of what he’s contributed to the game of basketball,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during an interview with V Magazine back in February. Well, now it makes total sense—SGA always focused on Kobe’s basketball side, and that’s why it came as a shock when he recently discovered a not-so-serious side hustle of Kobe that left him completely jaw-dropped. And here’s the kicker: that surprise wasn’t just limited to Kobe.

Everyone knows Kobe Bryant had a big love for storytelling after his basketball days. He’d sit staring at a blank page, dreaming up characters, their names, backstories, and legacies—even if most of it never made it into a final story. That creative spark eventually led him to start his own production company, Granity Studios. 2018 was huge—he put out projects and even snagged an Academy Award for Dear Basketball. But here’s the kicker: Kobe’s passion for creating didn’t start there—it goes all the way back to the ’90s, which is probably why SGA was so surprised to discover this side of him.

Shai recently had a long chat with Nardwuar on YouTube, diving into music and all things NBA-pop culture. Things got exciting fast when Nardwuar handed him an unreleased album Kobe had made back in the day with Tyra Banks. Seeing the vinyl of K.O.B.E., Shai couldn’t hide his surprise: “Nice. Wow. I didn’t know Kobe made music… I guess you learn something new every day. Uh, he’s just like a competitor and such a serious guy. I didn’t know like he’d make music on the side. I thought it was like all basketball, only basketball. But yeah, that’s cool. I’m going to listen to it tonight.”

Back in 1999, Kobe Bryant signed with Sony Records, planning to release his own studio album. Even before it officially dropped in 2000, he had already started experimenting in music. He collaborated with Destiny’s Child, remixing their 1999 hit “Say My Name”, and made a guest appearance in Brian McKnight’s 1997 track “Hold Me.” He also brought in big names like 50 Cent, Nas, and Broady Boy for his song “Thug Poet.” At one point, Shaquille O’Neal joined the fun, featuring on his 1998 track “3X’s Dope” from Shaq’s album Respect.

Kobe’s solo track “K.O.B.E.” made its debut at the 2000 All-Star Game, showing off his big-time baller personality straight in the lyrics. “What I live for? Basketball, beats and broads,” he rapped, adding, “From Italy to the U.S., yes, it’s raw.” But even with all his fame on the court, the song didn’t really connect with listeners, and the album Visions ended up being shelved. Sony soon cut ties, quietly closing Kobe’s music chapter—though he did pop up again in a 2011 Taiwanese Sprite commercial and got shoutouts from other musicians honoring the Black Mamba.

But even though SGA never met Kobe, the impact Kobe had on the court clearly shaped him and an entire generation of fans. SGA went on to have a standout 2024–25 season, winning MVP while leading the Thunder to 68 wins and averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three. Social media videos even compared some of Kobe’s signature moves to shots SGA was making, highlighting the similarities in their games. “His legacy will be remembered forever because of the competitor and the basketball player that he was. Hopefully I’m somewhere close to that level as a basketball player one day,” SGA acknowledged.

For fans watching, it’s easy to see how SGA is carrying forward pieces of that Mamba legacy in his own game and who knows, he might even slide into music too, considering Kobe wasn’t the only baller to try his hand at it.

SGA discovers the hidden talents of NBA legends

Later in the interview, SGA learned that other NBA legends had dipped into music too. “So [Allen] Iverson made music, too. Okay. Well, everyone’s—You know what? After this, I’m going to get in studio and make music, too. This is crazy. This is the first thing I’m going to do. I’m listen to Allen Iverson’s records and then Kobe records tonight,” he admitted, clearly excited.

SGA shared how Iverson left a mark on him beyond just basketball: “Tattoos, braids. Well, I don’t have any tattoos, but the braids, the swag, um, the confidence, his style. He was he was everything back in the day.”

Fashion clearly matters to SGA too—back in 2022, he already owned 1,000 shirts, had deals with Levi’s and Canada Goose, was featured in Vogue, and had been spotted at Paris Fashion Week and the Met Gala, even walking the runway for Thom Browne. He also reflected on a personal highlight: as a senior in high school, he got to play in an Allen Iverson Classic game, meeting the legend in person and soaking in the experience firsthand.

SGA also got schooled on another surprising crossover—former Raptors player Master P. He kind of knew a bit about him already, and when the host handed him a Master P vinyl, SGA said, “Master P. See, I know this guy…I know him as a rapper, but yeah, he played for Raptors a little bit. …the rapper Raptor.”

To give you some background, Master P—real name Percy Robert Miller Sr.—has been in the music game since 1989, with his group TRU making waves in the ’90s. But he also dabbled in basketball, joining the Hornets’ training camp in 1999 for just 10 days before getting cut. He later got a brief shot with the Raptors, only making it onto the training roster and appearing in an exhibition game. For SGA, the connection is simple: the Raptors. 

Another name that came up was Hakeem Olajuwon. The host handed SGA a 7-inch vinyl of “The Unbeatable Dream” album, and SGA said, “Wow. But it’s crazy. You know, I didn’t know this many basketball players made music. That’s crazy. I’m going to have to double dabble a little bit.”

The host clarified that Hakeem only had 27 words in the whole album, but SGA still put his hand up and said, “Music is music.” Hakeem’s lyrics included lines like, “And I won’t accept defeat,” “Unbeatable,” and “Think you’re hot? Then take a shot.” The real connection? The host pointed out that Hakeem has a connection to SGA too—he was an MVP in the finals, season MVP, and even finished his career with the Raptors.

From Kobe to Iverson, Master P, and Hakeem, SGA realized just how much basketball and music overlap. Each of these legends left a lasting impression, shaping and inspiring him both on the court and beyond.