On the court postgame following the Milwaukee Bucks’ 121-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Damian Lillard fielded a question on the latest topic in NBA pop culture: what is his opinion of LiAngelo Ball’s hit single “Tweaker”?
Since it premiered on January 3, the rap track has taken social media by storm. On YouTube, it remains the #1 Trending item in the music category. More than blowing up internet spaces, it has swiftly become ubiquitous in the real world.
The other day, Lonzo Ball and the Bulls had his brother’s song playing in the United Center during pregame warmups. As for Dame, he’s a fan: “I rock with it, reminds me of a 2003, 2004 vibe. It slaps.”
Like Gelo, a.k.a G3 on the stage, Lillard is a rap artist in his own right, recognized king of the NBA’s bar-spitting talent.
From One Artist To Another
Dame D.O.L.L.A. has released five albums in his music career thus far: The Letter O (2016), Confirmed (2017), Big D.O.L.L.A. (2019), Different on the Levels the Lord Allowed (2021), and Don D.O.L.L.A. (2023).
He doesn’t view Gelo’s fifteen minutes of fame (and possibly quite more) as competition, though. Instead, he embraces it: “As an artist you gotta respect other people’s artistry, and when something is going it’s going. Like I said, I rock with it, I respect it. I’m always happy with other people’s success, that’s how you make your success. I’m happy for him.”
Gelo’s song is certainly “going.” From Shaquille O’Neal’s dance during halftime coverage of Celtics-Nuggets on Tuesday (“wooOOOaaah”), to the Bulls broadcast, locker rooms throughout the league and a million fan reaction videos, the lyrics are inescapable whether you vibe with it or not.
One YouTuber predicts the hit is sure to be included in the NBA 2K26 video game.
“I be hearing everywhere,” Lillard concluded the interview. “Much love to him.”
Former UCLA guard and G-leaguer, the 26-year-old Gelo is enjoying at least as much media attention as his NBA-employed siblings, the 27-year-old Lonzo and 23-year-old Lamelo.
From LiAngelo’s rapping to Lonzo’s playmaking, to Lamelo’s circus in Charlotte (don’t forget the father Lavar) the Balls are truly everywhere.
Milwaukee Bucks Ball Out Once Again
On the basketball court, the Bucks rained down threes from everywhere behind the stripe. As a team, they shot 19 of 42 (45.2%), including a 4-4 night for guard Gary Trent Jr. Lillard himself knocked down 4 of 7 for 26 points in another razor sharp performance.
After a stretch of inefficient shooting, his last two games he has made 60% of field goals, 60% of threes and 12 of 13 free throws. Dame has put on a master class of efficiency and the Bucks have won both contests by comfortable margins.
After Khris Middleton’s benching was announced Wednesday afternoon, the reasons for which Doc Rivers clarified to the media, it was good to see them come out and dominate a tough, energetic Spurs squad led by Victor Wembanyama.
Against the Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, the Milwaukee has looked like a much fresher team, a stark contrast to the way they played in a pair of frustrating L’s to the cellar-dwelling Nets and Trail Blazers.
Speaking on basketball matters as well as musical, Lillard cited health, “focus,” and “discipline” as driving factors, as well as learning what he referred to as their “new defensive system”:
“Having to be on a string and be connected, we’ve done a much better job at that. And then offensively we’ve just done the right thing, making an extra pass, advancing the ball….With the kind of talent we have, you end up winning a lot of games. I love what we’re becoming. I love what we’re able to do when we’re right.”
To this point in the season, Milwaukee has had its share of struggles. Whether or not they have an adequate supporting cast, and whether the Bucks can continue to execute consistently, remains to be seen.
Improving to 19-16 with the win (5th in the East), the Bucks can turn the corner on stagnation and swerve into some positive momentum with a victory against Orlando on Friday, January 10.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on X at @ezsniper14 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
