Lebron james honors lakers fan and rap legend nipsey hussle two years after his death

Lakers star LeBron James used his massive social media platform to honor rap legend Nipsey Hussle Wednesday, saluting one of the team’s biggest fans who influenced NBA players’ focus on

fighting social injustice. > Would you rather be at war with yourself and at peace with the world > or at peace with yourself and at war with the world!?!? 🤔 > #LLNH💙🏁 @NipseyHussle

> — LeBron James (@KingJames) March 31, 2021 It’s been two years since Hussle was shot and killed in a gang-related incident outside his store, The Marathon Clothing, in the Crenshaw

District. Hussle, who made his name as a shrewd entrepreneur with fierce authenticity, was an avid basketball fan who cheered on the Lake Show. He also performed during a Clippers halftime

show in 2018. “Nip Hussle the legend was an innovator and trailblazer,” Clippers brand ambassador and rapper Stix told The Times in a text message. “He always stayed ahead of the curve,

whether it was introducing us to new ways to engage via his Marathon Store or educating us on the early stages of crypto. He was light years ahead of his time and perfect for our time. He

was a prophet like Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, and others. Long live Nip!” That same year, when Lakers Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram got into a scuffle with then-Houston Rockets guard Chris

Paul, Hussle stood up from his courtside seat, seemingly ready to defend his hometown. He also met his business partner, David Gross, during a Lakers matchup in 2016. Hussle’s loyalty and

grit are what drew many to him. “The things that made me want to connect with Nip, made me a fan of Nip, was everything that came before I met him,” Gross said. As he ascended the music

industry, Hussle also stayed connected to the community, especially through basketball. In 2018, he used his partnership with Puma to refurbish the basketball court at 59th Elementary

School, where he used to shoot hoops. “Basketball and Crenshaw — you can’t separate them,” Hussle said in a essay about the court for The Player’s Tribune. “It’s all part of the culture that

made me.” Los Angeles-based artist Cooper (who went by the name Drew Visuals at the time) was commissioned to do the art for the court. The design incorporated his signature wildflowers, a

sign of growth. The whimsical court was meant to be “fun for the kids to play on, joyful, vibrant, and positive,” Cooper said in a phone interview with The Times. “Just being in his presence

and meeting him was the most inspirational moment of my art career.” Cooper recalled Hussle coming out to inspect his work after he finished painting the court. He grinned and said, “This

is dope.” “That was the ultimate sign of respect,” Cooper said, noting it’s an ingrained memory that will forever motivate him. This year, rapper Big Sean honored Hussle’s basketball legacy

during a video for his Grammy-nominated song “Deep Reverence.” During his verse, Hussle is depicted through a framed photograph while Big Sean performs part of the song at Crete Academy in

Crenshaw, where the basketball court features a mural honoring Hussle. It displays a portrait of Hussle’s profile against a rich blue background with the quote: “The highest human act is to

inspire.” MORE TO READ