“Kendrick is doing what Kendrick should do.” – Said Dwyane Wade in 2024. He probably embodied a similar mindset in 2005, when he earned his first All-Star selection in an era dominated by Kobe Bryant. Between getting selected 5th overall draft pick in the blockbuster 2003 draft class to teaming up with the reigning superstar at the Olympics, Dwyane Wade emerged as the star to watch. With his rising stardom came amazing opportunities. He’s seeing something similar play out for Kendrick Lamar as he headlines the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show in Lil Wayne’s hometown.

This week on his self-titled podcast, D-Wade hyped the current Kendrick Lamar craze. He rightfully pointed out that without Jay-Z’s affiliation with the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the biggest artist at the moment still wouldn’t get a spot in this show. “We need to be thankful that we getting artists that we know and that is a part of our culture represented at you know one of the biggest moments in sports… and so… shoutout to Kendrick Lamar.” 

Lil Wayne vocalized his disappointment that he wasn’t chosen to represent New Orleans which is hosting the Super Bowl in 2025. Though Wade grew up a Lil Wayne fan, he gets why K Dot deserves this opportunity which he basically put it as, “He is hot right now!” And Wade has been in the “Not Like Us” hitmaker’s position during his NBA career.

“I’ve been hot before as an athlete and … when you’re hot, you get the All-Star nods… you get the calls… you get the appearances, you get the endorsements,” Wade said and even added, that there was someone akin to Lil Wayne when his star was rising. “When I came in, Kobe was the guy. But then I hit the scene and I was hot, so they started giving me some stuff .”

He indirectly had some advice for Lil Wayne on looking at this snub, too. “It don’t mean it took anything away from Kobe.” He does say that he would’ve loved to see a Lil Wayne Halftime Show and is sure that will happen in the near future. But it’s Kendrick Lamar’s moment right now.

Dwyane Wade  relates to Kendrick Lamar a lot more

What makes Dwyane Wade calling Lamar the “King of LA” even more fascinating is Kendrick glorifying Kobe Bryant through his music and concerts. There is some speculation that he would pay tribute to Kobe once more at the Super Bowl the way he did at his Los Angeles concert.

Wade is originally a Lil Wayne fan but his daughter, Zaya, got him hooked on Kendrick Lamar. Days before his Hall of Fame induction, the father-daughter duo were among the many celebrities at Kendrick’s concert. Zaya also made her dad listen to Kendrick’s latest album and the 3x champion loves that the feud with Drake is giving music lovers amazing music.

It’s not hard to see why Wade relates to Lamar. Just as Lil Wayne was the biggest hip-hop mogul at the time, Bryant was an established All-Star and a 3x champion. Then Shaquille O’Neal arrived in Miami and the Heat was heading to the finals, followed by a title win in the next season. Wade’s clutch moments earned his All-Star nods and on the Wheaties cereal box. And he’s part of Miami’s Big 3 with consecutive Finals appearances after Bryant won his final two rings.

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As Wade said, his accomplishments could never diminish Kobe Bryant’s legacy. So he can savor Kendrick Lamar’s prime for as long as it lasts.