Nipsey Hussle Was Loved in the Sports World Then, Now, and Forever

By: Zachary Draves

It has been exactly five years since the incomparable Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed at the age of 33. 

(Courtesy: Nicholas Watkin @NickWYNC)

Much like Selena, who tragically perished in 1995 on the same date no less and by someone she knew, Nip’s death at the hands of someone he knew, hit the community hard because of who he was and what he represented. Also like Selena, he became larger than life in death with others on the outside having to catch up and realize the genius and genuineness that was always there. 

He wasn’t just any artist, he was a man who was committed to his community and his music was merely a vehicle to get their needs and wants addressed. 

In essence, he was a refreshing throwback to the earliest days of hip-hop when the music served a purpose beyond the beats and rhymes. It shined a light on the conditions of communities that had been neglected politically, socially, and economically by the powers at be. 

Like two of his biggest hits, Nip had been “Grinding All My Life” and he did so with “Dedication”. 

His lineage of community involvement spoke to the kind of change he wanted to see. He helped 59th Street Elementary School on Crenshaw Boulevard in South Los Angeles, founded the Vector90 STEM center for young people looking to enter the STEM fields, and was heavily invested in anti-gun violence initiatives.

In fact, there was supposed to be a meeting between Roc Nation and the LAPD that he had organized on how to combat gang violence on April 1, 2019. 

Who could have fathomed that his death was one of the last major events that hit home for many before the world went into a tailspin with the COVID-19 pandemic just one year later and the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery that re-galvanized the movement for racial justice. 

“Five years is half a decade that has passed,” said Justin Tinsley, senior sports and culture writer for ESPN’s Landscape and creator of the 30 for 30 podcast series The King of Crenshaw. “You realize how much time happens. Even if you weren’t a fan of his, regardless March 31st, 2019, you are reminded what life used to be.”

Like many in hip-hop, Nip was able to transcend outside of the realm of music and into other facets of society and culture, with one of the obvious ones being sports.

(Courtesy: Marcio Jose Sanchez/Credit: AP)

Growing up in L.A., he gravitated towards sports and remembered going to Dodgers and Lakers games as a kid. 

Much like another West Coast legend Snoop Dogg, Nip became a major staple in LAs sporting culture as he ascended to fame. He was a frequent presence at Lakers and Dodgers games, performed at halftime at a Clippers game in 2018, donned Dodger and Laker with regularity, and garnered support from many in the sports world who were hit extremely hard by his death. 

(Courtesy: Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)

LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry and others expressed their condolences and spoke movingly on what he meant to them. NBA players wrote his name on their sneakers, MLB players changed their walk up songs to his, and teams held moments of silence in his honor. 

“Those guys lost a friend and obviously his family lost a brother, father, partner, son, grandson, and he was somebody who cherished relationships,” said. Tinsley. 

One of his last public sightings was 24 hours before his death when he was sitting courtside at the Elite Eight matchup between Texas Tech and Gonzaga in Anaheim. He was seen cheering as the Red Raiders defeated the Bulldogs and was later invited to the locker room by player Brandone Francis. 

“I can’t think about March Madness without thinking about Nip,” said Tinsley. “At the very end of his life, he was very involved in the game of basketball and now he is connected forever. 

When it comes to basketball, hip hop has a longstanding connection because of its similarities to improvisation and creativity. Nip appreciated that and was someone who played recreationally in his spare time. 

Today players such as Isiah Thomas of the Phoenix Suns, who shared a strong friendship with Nip, continue to honor his memory. He took to X/Twitter on Sunday and posted “Top of the TOP @NipseyHussle 🏁”

Certainly plenty has happened over the last five years and what remains is the indelible impact of Nipsey Hussle. The music was certainly an obvious starting point, but it is what he did beyond that which acclaimed him the status of icon. 

(Courtesy: Neilson Barnard/Bet/Getty Images)

He was in life what sports is, a dreamer, believer, and striver who never let anyone or anything stand in his way towards greatness. 

As he said in “Racks in the Middle” “Finish what we started, reach them heights, you know?”