When Drake drops a new project, the entire world, including the sports world, pays attention. Sports and the athletes who play them have become an integral part of his lyrics and life in general. Drake is friends with some athletes and frenemies with others. We’ve all seen him courtside at Toronto Raptors games, so much so that there’s jokes about him cursing out opposing players while he rocks their gear.
“Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous / Cause we want to be them, and they want to be us.”
Those lyrics, which come from “Thank Me Now,” off Drake’s 2010 debut album, Thank Me Later, set the tone for Champagne Papi’s relationship with sports. From the moment he entered the public eye, Drake has embraced the Venn diagram that exists between music and sports by doing everything he can to be a part of both to the point where his fandom has become a meme.
Drake finagles his way into sports whenever the opportunity presents itself. He began a close relationship with the University of Kentucky, most famously taking the opportunity to airball a three-pointer during the Wildcat’s Big Blue Madness season-opening event in 2014 and eventually getting the university an NCAA violation.
In addition to literally inserting himself into any and all sports happenings he finds himself around, Drake has taken an only slightly less invasive approach when slipping sports references into his lyrics. At the drop of a hat, he’ll mention his weekends at Steph Curry’s house or his friendship with Odell Beckham Jr., and even pay homage to some of Canada’s greats. Though his affinity for sports can get a bit exasperating, you’ve got to hand it to Drizzy: he’s a dedicated fan who shows love to the players who make each game so great.
In honor of his 39th birthday, here are 40 of Drake’s best sports rap references.
"In the Bible"
Year: 2021
Lyric: “I think I'm Tiger Woods, the way I'm teed off the 17."
Drake references the golf GOAT on his woozy collaboration with Lil' Durk off Certified Lover Boy. A few months before this dropped, Woods was involved in a car accident in which he sustained substantial injuries. But he'd make his triumphant return at the 2022 Masters.
"Demons"
Year: 2020
Lyric: “Ball in the summer like Drew League” / "Sosa (Sosa), Fivi (Fivi), lookin' like KD and Kyrie (I am)"
Back in 2020, Drake dropped his Dark Lane Demo Tapes project as a total surprise to most. The compilation consisted mostly of songs that had either leaked or were just loosies, but that doesn't mean they aren't hitting. And of course Drake had to get some hoop bars off, spitting "Ball in the Summer like Drew League" and "Sosa, Fivi, looking like KD and Kyrie." Drake really believed in that Brooklyn Nets team.
"7am on Bridle Path"
Year: 2021
Lyric: “Don't move like a puto / Could at least keep a buck like Antetokounmpo"
"And my wishes come true without blowin' eyelashes / Up in Bron crib, fishbowl wine glasses / That's how we passin' time"
The first reference here is one of those Drake bars that are so tortured and corny that make you cringe, but then you find yourself rapping along to on next listen. As for the latter, 2021 was a simpler time for Drake and King James. He's most likely not spending much time up in LeBron's crib these days.
"Draft Day"
Year: 2014
Lyric: “Draft day, Johnny Manziel/Five years later how am I the man still/Draft day, A. Wiggins/Fuck that other side bitch, we stay winnin'”
When this first dropped, it was cool to hear Drake name-dropping two of the hottest up-and-coming athletes in sports. Over a decade later, though, it’s pretty fair to say that Johnny Manziel is no longer the man and Andrew Wiggins isn’t exactly doing too much winning since leaving Golden State. Absolute slapper of a chorus, though.
"Shopping Spree"
Year: 2025
Lyric: “Sleeping in the Pistons locker room, I'm on another mission / Cade Cunningham left his Crocs, yeah I f**ed you in 'em"
On this incomplete leaked song from early 2025, Drake references the Pistons star point guard before dropping a ridiculous line about some people's favorite footwear.
"Sandra's Rose"
Year: 2018
Lyric: "They don’t have enough to satisfy a real one / Maverick Carter couldn’t even get the deal done"
"Louisville hush money for my young gunners / Rick Pitino I take 'em to strip clubs and casino."
We all know that Drake was close with LeBron James and Maverick Carter, but til this day, we still don't know what deal Drizzy was talking about on this Scorpion cut. Drake also worked in a quick bar on the Louisville recruiting scandal that got RIck Pitino fired.
"No Friends in the Industry"
Year: 2021
Lyric: “And I'm like Sha'Carri, smoke 'em on and off the track."
Drake shouts out the Olympic gold medalist track star, who missed the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for marijuana, on one of the more aggressive songs off Certified Lover Boy. With Sha'Carri in the news again, don't be surprised if Iceman features bars dedicated to her.
"Landed"
Year: 2020
Lyric: “I be in and out arenas like I'm Scottie Pippen”
Drake was clearly watching The Last Dance during the early days of the COVID shutdown. That's not a shot, we all were, but it's probably not a coincidence that Drizzy was out here namedropping Scottie Pippen in songs on his project. On the track "Landed," Drake paid tribute to Pippen with the line, "I be in and out of arenas like I'm Scottie Pippen."
"Lemon Pepper Freestyle"
Year: 2021
Lyric: “My city love me like DeMar DeRozan."
Even though it had been years since the Raptors sent DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio as the centerpiece of the Kawhi Leonard trade, Drake still had to show love to the Toronto legend. Like a lot of things in Drake's life, his relationship with DeRozan has changed since then.
"Nonstop"
Year: 2018
Lyric: "Catch me ‘cause I’m going, outta there, I’m gone / How I go from 6 to 23 like I’m LeBron?"
Another LeBron line from Drake and this one is quite simple, but still great. Drake is ready to go full speed on the drop of a hat.
"Liability"
Year: 2022
Lyric: “At the beginning, it felt like you're going harder than me / Then you stepped back on this shit, girl, you hit the Harden on me."
Off his Honestly, Nevermind album, one of Drake's most reaching sports bars refers to The Beard's signature move.
"Tim Westwood Freestyle"
Year: 2010
Lyric: "I ain't lyin' to the kids, like the dentist ain't scary/I'm what LeBron was to St. Vincent—St. Mary"
Drake and LeBron’s relationship has had many twists and turns and dates back to LeBron's first stint with the Cavs. That's pre-Decision! “Forever” was created for LeBron’s More Than a Game documentary, and months before More Life came out, the future Hall of Famer was tweeting out lyrics from the album. But Drizzy first name-checked LeBron 15 years ago in one of his first freestyles in the aftermath of his reading-off-a-Blackberry freestyle incident on Hot 97.
"Middle of the Ocean"
Year: 2022
Lyric: "Big Benjamins like the Pittsburgh Steelers / Drake you got it / Robert Kraft sent the jet for us, that shit was patriotic / You would think we live in Baltimore, the way they ravin' bout the latest product."
Drake drops a flurry of sports references on this Her Loss standout, name-dropping Ben Roethlisberger, the Patriots owner, the Baltimore Ravens.
"Can’t Have Everything"
Year: 2017
Lyric: “Two-faced n****s back around with the three face/Damn, ol' triple double, Russ face, watch with the bust face”
While Drake most definitely rode for Kevin Durant in the beef between him and his former Oklahoma City teammate (in contrast to rap rival Kendrick Lamar, who name-checked Russ on “The Heart Pt. 4”), he pays Brodie some respect on this cut from More Life. Russell Westbrook set the single-season triple-double record in 2017 while also becoming the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double the whole season. Plus, the Russ face became the perfect way to respond to something incomprehensibly dumb.
"I'm on One"
Year: 2022
Lyric: “Take her to see Cristiano, f**k her in that Benz Viano / Champions League shit, there'll be a driver for you on arrival"
"I'm just all about my goals like Ovechkin, what / I'm just all about my goals like I'm Messi, what"
Alongside What a Time to Be Alive collaborator Future, Drake goes on a run bragging about his friendship with Cristiano Ronaldo and letting the people know he has more goals than the all-time leading NHL goalscorer and the eight-time Balloon d'Or winner.
"Pain 1993"
Year: 2020
Lyric: "When I shoot my shot, It’s the Kawhi way, it’s goin in"
You knew Drake was going to get a Raptors bar off on this project at some point. And what better way to do it than an ode to Kawhi Leonard's immortal game-winning shot against the 76ers with the line, "when I shoot my shot, it's the Kawhi way, it's going in." Look away, Philly fans.
"Another Late Night"
Year: 2023
Lyric: “Ayy, thinkin' 'bout this pill I took, pillow talkin' / Shawty ran some Dillon Brooks, can't believe this n— talkin' damn."
Drake couldn't let Dillon Brooks get away with saying that he'd pick Ryan Reynolds over him as his favorite Canadian celebrity.
"Back to Back"
Year: 2015
Lyric: “Back to back like I’m Jordan ‘96, ‘97”
A quick but effective reference, Drake employed Jordan’s back-to-back championship years to allude to the fact that he was going up 2-0 on Meek Mill during their infamous squabble in 2015.
For those that who forgot about Drake’s infamous squabble with Meek Mill, a refresher: Drake dropped the slower, less well-received “Charged Up” in initial response to Meek Mill’s Twitter revelation of his “R.I.C.O.” collaborator’s usage of ghostwriters. Before Meek could give a response to the first track, Drake dropped “Back to Back,” seizing the opportunity to not just get two punches in, but to perform the song five days later at his very own OVO Fest.
"All the Parties"
Year: 2023
Lyric: “Guess it's time for me to cover the shark / Me and KD 'bout to turn up the art."
Drake once again shouts out his favorite hooper on this For All the Dogs track. KD, in turn, has shown Drake a lot of love through the years, including stating that Certified Lover Boy is his favorite album of all time.
"Thank Me Now"
Year: 2010
Lyric: “I can relate to kids going straight to the league/When they recognize that you got what it takes to succeed/And that's around the time/That your idols become your rivals/You make friends with Mike/But got to A.I. him for your survival/Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous/Cause we want to be them, and they want to be us”
Perhaps the most detailed and accurate of Drake’s sports references, the 6 God employed a reference to Allen Iverson’s through-the-legs move on Michael Jordan to allude to defeating your heroes and the overall similarities between the worlds of sports and music.
While Drake has chased sports stardom in his own ways, athletes from Shaq to Kobe to DeSean Jackson to Kevin Durant have tried their hand at rapping, to mostly disastrous results.
"The Remorse"
Year: 2021
Lyric: “Can't picture bein' a hubby / Finger too stubby to fit a ring on unless Kawhi wanna run it back"
Two years after Kawhi Leonard left the Raptors for the Clippers, Drake can't let go of the man who brought Toronto its first NBA championship.
"Weston Road Flows"
Year: 2016
Lyric: “Don't let your newfound fame fool you/Or cloud up your judgement to talk loosely, I really do this/Been flowin' stupid since Vince Carter/Was on some through the legs arm in the hoop shit”
“A lot of people just hit me up when my name is mentioned/Shout out to KD, we relate, we get the same attention/It's rainin' money, Oklahoma City Thunder/The most successful rapper 35 and under”
While we’ve got two-for-one references on “Weston Road Flows” (the Kevin Durant lyric gets the benefit of nice wordplay), the important lyrics here are the ones focused on Vince Carter.
The reference has layers of significance, with Drake following up a possible dismissal at fellow Toronto rapper Torey Lanez with admiration for the Raptors legend, honoring his iconic performance in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
"Nokia"
Year: 2025
Lyric: “Is that your bestie? / I'ma ice both of y'all like Gretzky."
The Toronto native finally gets around to shouting out the Great One on this track off Some Sexy Songs 4 U, his 2025 collaboration with PartyNextDoor.
"Fake Love"
Year: 2016
Lyric: “No, you can't "son" me/You won't never get to run me/Just when shit look out of reach/I reach back like one, three/Like one, three, yeah”
Somehow, this is the only Odell Beckham Jr. reference in Drake’s discography, despite the pure and beautiful friendship that exists between the two. The lyrics allude to Beckham Jr.’s legendary one-handed catch in 2014 versus the Dallas Cowboys, as well as the receiver’s number (13).
Beckham, of course, had been spotted hanging out with Drake on multiple occasions, including getting a visit from him in the hospital. He also claimed that when he listens to some Drake songs, “it's almost as if he wrote them and had me in mind." The aforementioned lyrics from “Thank Me Now” have never rang more true.
"6 Man"
Year: 2015
Lyric: “Boomin out in South Gwinnett like Lou Will/6 man like Lou Will, two girls and they get along like I'm Louuuu/Like I'm Lou Will, I just got the new deal/I am in the Matrix and I just took the blue pill”
On the most underrated cut from If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, Drake takes the time to pay homage to former Toronto Raptor and Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams. While Williams did end up getting that new deal (a nice three-year, $21-million contract), it was with the Lakers, not the Raptors, with whom he ended up only spending one season. Still, the shout out to Williams’ success—and his open relationship—remains one of Drizzy’s most notable sports references.
"Free Smoke"
Year 2017
Lyric: “Now they like, ‘aren’t you adorable?”/I know the question rhetorical/I took the team plane from Oracle/Mama never used to cook much/Used to chef KD/Now me and Chef, KD/Bet on shots for twenty G's”
Drake’s primary basketball loyalties may lie with the Raptors, but he’s infamous for stanning athletes and teams of all different locations and cities. His love for Steph Curry and Kevin Durant is on full display here as he references hanging out on the Warriors’ plane and claims it’s a good idea to place money on the shooting of two of the top players in the National Basketball Association. Maybe that’s why he ended up possibly getting tattoos of the two players’ numbers, or at the very least why he got clowned by Durant and Draymond Green after a game in 2016.
"0 to 100 / The Catch Up"
Year: 2014
Lyric: “Yeah, the 6 ain't friendly but that's where I lay up/This shit a mothafuckin' lay up/I been Steph Curry with the shot/Been cookin' with the sauce, Chef Curry with the pot, boy”
The prelude to Drake’s friendship with Curry, and the better of the two tracks released in the lead up to If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late (the other being “Draft Day”), laudes the two-time MVP and all-time three-point leader for his shooting ability while simultaneously hyping up his wife Ayesha’s cooking skills.
"Used To"
Year: 2015
Lyric: “Yeah, I'm fuckin' glowin' up/Shaq postin' up on n****s that I used to have posters of/Real quick, man, you couldn't have hated that/Let's be real, n***a, you couldn't have made it that, woo!”
In essence, these lyrics contain the same theme as the ones from “Thank Me Now”—taking down those you used to idolize. These are better, though, because Drake is describing the act taking down those legends, rather than dreaming about when he will be able to. Here, he uses notorious giant human being Shaq to emphasize his status in the rap game.
The lyrics target none other than Diddy, who was frustrated over Drake’s usage of the “0-100” beat. In 2014, it was reported that Puff slapped Drake following a dispute over the beat (Drake was allegedly supposed to ghostwrite for Diddy for the beat). But in a 2015 interview, Diddy clarified that he “did not put hands on Drake. And I don’t want any problems with Drake. Drake is, right now, that’s all I have to say. He’s putting in his work.” He went on to say that “Drake is my friend."
The combined power of the lyrics and the swagger-filled delivery Drake employs to bring them to life, easily places this song at the top of the list.
"Enough Said"
Year: 2012
Lyric: "Went from my nigga serving it by the tele to venues in Manchester/Just swerving with Balotelli, the fuck are you trying to tell me?"
Your favorite rapper chills with NBA players in different states while Drizzy is a bit more international when it comes to ballin' out with athlete friends. We can only imagine the shenanigans the former Man City striker and Toronto MC got into.
"Pop That"
Year: 2012
Lyric: "OVO that's major shit, Toronto with me that's mayor shit/Gettin' cheddar packs like KD, OKC that's player shit"
Good enough for Mr. Durant. Good enough for us. This slick reference was one of the better parts of the summer's biggest party anthem.
"Come Winter"
Year: 2009
Lyric: "She love to play hurt like Carter did on the bizzench"
Drizzy still seems a little salty over Vinsanity forcing his way out of Toronto. Going from dropping 15 PPG one season to 27 PPG the very next was crazy though.
"You Know, You Know"
Year: 2010
Lyric: "But I'm still playin' like I'm being scouted 'til I'm out it/Gametime bitch, I hope you're proud of us/King James shit watch me throw the powder up"
Maybe Drake should've followed his own advice. Throwing powder up > Throwing bottles in the club. Ask Tony Parker.
"To The Floor"
Year: 2010
Lyric: "Throw the pussy at me guarantee that you won't see a strike/I'mma hit it hard you gon' think you Derek Jeter wife"
We're sure all of the thirsty groupies got hyped off of this one even though Jeter didn't get married until 2016.
"Made Men"
Year: 2011
Lyric: "I'm at the condo just posted watching Miami kill/I might just walk to the arena and watch it for real"
While we scoured the depths of StubHub in search of seats with views that allow us to distinguish Chris Bosh from LeBron James, Drake was posted up courtside.
"Ignorant Sh*t"
Year: 2009
Lyric: "On some southern drawl shit/Rookie of the Year, '06 Chris Paul shit"
Meanwhile, a ton of other rappers are on their one good year and fade to black like 2014 winner Michael Carter-Williams. It's sad but true.
"Barry Bonds (Freestyle)"
Year: 2008
Lyric: "Yeah, that’s the reason why he looking hard/'Cause I’ve done snatched the Chips Ahoy! out the cookie jar/He just mad ’cause his girl at the house/With her tongue sticking out like a Michael Jordan rookie card"
Say what you want about dude's emo ways but the thirst is real.
"Over My Dead Body"
Year: 2011
Lyric: "Yeah, are these people really discussing my career again?/Asking if I’ll be going platinum in a year again?/Don’t I got the shit the world wanna hear again?/Don’t Michael Jordan still got his hoop earring in?"
Doesn't the GOAT still rock the most ridiculous jeans known to man over and over again?