Have you ever ever guess on an NBA Finals collection towards a pal? If the reply is sure, then you’ve gotten one thing in frequent with E-40 and Joyner Lucas — who put up $50,000 every final yr when their hometown groups, the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, squared off within the 2022 Finals, with the Warriors finally successful the best-of-7 collection in six video games.
“The explanation I used to be assured is as a result of we’ve accomplished this,” E-40, a longtime Warriors fan, tells Billboard. “We’ve received 4 rings, and these previous 10 years, this decade has been ours.”
As assured because the Vallejo, California native was that his squad would emerge victorious from the 2022 championship, E-40 nonetheless tried to offer Lucas a number of possibilities to name off the guess. The “Ramen & OJ” rapper admittedly made this wager along with his coronary heart and hometown in thoughts.
“I don’t know what the hell I used to be pondering, to be sincere with you,” Joyner tells Billboard. “I feel I used to be simply attempting to point out the hometown some love. I used to be assured about the way it began off [with the Celtics going up 2-1], that we have been going to take it.”
The Worcester, Massachusetts MC, who not too long ago dropped “Blackout,” the newest providing off his forthcoming sophomore album, Not Now, I’m Busy, watched his cash slip away proper earlier than his eyes as he carried out at halftime throughout Sport 6 of the Finals final yr. The Warriors have been topped champions that night, and in the event you ask E-40, he wouldn’t thoughts betting on his hometown crew once more.
“I really feel like we’re going to repeat, and as soon as we win, I don’t know who’s going to step up and be like Joyner,” the West Coast legend tells Billboard. “I don’t know what rapper needs to do it. They will play with me in the event that they wish to. They will put 100 up, they’ll put 200, no matter they wish to do. I’m going with the Warriors.”
Throughout Sport 1 of the Western Convention Spherical 1 collection between the Warriors and Sacramento Kings on Saturday night time (Apr. 16), E-40 was concerned in a verbal skirmish with safety, leading to his ejection from the world. The incident stemmed from an earlier encounter with a heckling Kings fan, which prompted safety to come back and test on the matter. The West Coast veteran referred to as out the Kings group, citing “racial bias,” hoping these concerned could be held accountable. The Kings responded with an announcement and mentioned that they’re at the moment investigating the matter. A rep near E-40 confirms to Billboard that he is not going to be attending Sport 2 in Sacramento on Monday night time (Apr. 17).
Previous to the incident over the weekend, Billboard caught up with E-40 and Lucas to debate their pleasant rivalry, the sources of their fandom, and their 2023 NBA playoff predictions.
When did you turn out to be a fan of your crew, and what actually drew you to them?
E-40: I at all times appreciated sports activities. Baseball, basketball, soccer. And I at all times represented my soil. I like California, interval. However I like Northern California extra, you already know what I’m saying? And so, me being a Warriors fan since I used to be younger watching Rick Barry shoot free throws, underhanded. Watching that, I’ve been loving it.
I did a giant factor in Vallejo, in my metropolis at Dan Foley Park, the place it was referred to as the E-40 Enjoyable Day. And I had all the children on the market, I’m speaking about the entire Vallejo. Free barbecue, video games. Had hella video games on the market, jumpers, all the things you want. I even had the Warriors, RIP to the mascot that that they had again then, however he got here to the factor. He arrange the entire Warriors factor.
The time I’m speaking about was like 1998, someplace round twenty-something years in the past. I’ve at all times been a fan of the Warriors, however any crew round right here I’d attempt to help. It’s at all times Warriors, 49ers, and the [San Francisco] Giants are my first precedence.
Joyner Lucas: [For me], simply rising up and watching the video games and having a crew the place you’re from. Naturally, you wish to help the place you’re from. As you develop up, and also you wish to help your crew, the place you from, and you already know there’s lots of legendary gamers which have performed on the Celtics. And these gamers which can be on the crew proper now might be legendary as effectively. I simply suppose that that’s actually what it’s.
Final yr, you guys made a $50,000 guess on the NBA Finals. How did that come about?
E-40: He wished to guess me. He mentioned, “Let’s guess.” I mentioned, “Let’s guess a greenback, man. Let’s simply do some cool little gentleman’s guess, like $1. A greenback deal.” He wished to huge time me and simply, “Nah, f–okay that. Let’s guess $50,000.” He tried to punk me out, proper? And he didn’t know I used to be skilled to go, you’re feeling me?
I say, “Okay, you positive?” Proper? And he was like, “Hell yeah!” Even a day later, he posted it immediately. He put it on Fb and Instagram. I didn’t say something. Perhaps I re-posted what he put out or one thing, however he’s the one who began it. He wished to speak Large Bronco. And I’m like, “Joyner.” A day later, I imagine a day or two later, I say, “Man, it ain’t too late to again up out this guess.”
I’m throwing him a life vest and stuff like that, and he’s nonetheless speaking Large Bronco. You understand what the person mentioned? That man mentioned, “F–okay that. I don’t wish to hear no mom f—–g kumbaya.” You understand what I’m saying? That’s what he mentioned.
Joyner Lucas: I felt like Jayson Tatum and people guys actually wished it, however I didn’t actually consider how lengthy the Warriors been actually doing it, and the way seasoned they’re. And E-40 gave me lots of possibilities to again out of the guess, even when the Warriors have been main, however I didn’t wish to again out as a result of I’m a person of my phrase.
Ultimately, I took a very dangerous loss, however I’m going to be actual with you: I didn’t anticipate us to lose the night time that I carried out. I believed we have been going to win that night time. Thought it was a house recreation, I believed we have been going to win. I believed it was going to be nice, however they misplaced the night time that I carried out. It was loopy, as a result of even throughout halftime, we have been down. After I went out and carried out, it was like no one was attempting to listen to that s–t. No one was attempting to see me carry out, as a result of no one was actually in an excellent temper that [because they] have been down, so it was simply all dangerous all the way in which round, man. It wasn’t actually an excellent night time.
E-40: He mentioned, “Ship me the wire data.” Proper? And I used to be like, “Okay.” I despatched it to him, after which he hits me … I feel it was the weekend, however he hits me and say, “As promised.” And he confirmed me the wire data. Proper?
I referred to as him and I mentioned, “That sort of damage, didn’t it?” He mentioned, “Hell yeah!” I mentioned, “I do know that might’ve damage me regardless of how a lot cash I received.” It’s simply $50K. That’s simply some huge cash. He requested me what I’m going to do. “OG, what you going to do with the cash?” I mentioned, “I’m going to redo my swimming pool.”
40, being a season ticket holder, is there any participant on the Warriors that you’ve got a very good relationship with?
E-40: One of many people who I’m shut with is Draymond [Green]. That’s my man. I’m near [Stephen] Curry too, however I’m tremendous near Draymond. Draymond is a good man. We’ve performed dominoes collectively. Earlier than he moved to San Francisco, nearer to the world, he stayed out right here by me.
And I’d go over there, and his mother could be there. He used to say, “Mother’s making tacos right this moment.” That’s our people too. And we’d go over there, we eat tacos, play dominoes. And it’d simply be nothing however simply love. And we speak s–t to one another, particularly on days off. We’d get a couple of glasses of wine, you’re feeling me? And it’s simply real love.
I used to be at his wedding ceremony. Everyone that was any individual was up in that factor. Even LeBron and all of them. He invited me and my spouse to the marriage.
What are your ideas on the general playoffs this yr? What are your predictions?
E-40: It’s going to be powerful. We don’t know. This one may be very unpredictable total, as a result of there’s so many good groups. The West is so powerful, and all of those gamers are enjoying at a excessive capability. Basketball has developed. The gamers have developed. I don’t know if it’s their exercise plans, or know-how, or how they eat. I don’t know what it’s. However they didn’t play like this again within the days, good brother. Everyone’s good. You hear me?
Do both of you suppose your crew could make it again to the Finals? And in the event that they do, are you planning on placing one other guess on it this time round?
Joyner Lucas: I’m by no means betting on a single basketball participant or recreation in my total life. By no means once more will I ever guess on one other basketball recreation ever once more in life, ever. That was it.
I’d hope that they might be capable to get again. I wish to see it go the opposite method this time, however on the similar time, once more, it’s the expertise of the Warriors, man. They confirmed final yr that that they had that have over the Celtics. I don’t know if one yr goes to vary that. I don’t know. Hopefully, in the event that they get again, they’ll capitalize and so they take it residence. That will be wonderful for the town, and I feel everybody would like to see that. Jayson, he’s having a hell of a yr, so I suppose we’ll see.
E-40: Completely. I really feel like we’re going to repeat, and as soon as we win, I don’t know who’s going to step up and be like Joyner. I don’t know what rapper needs to do it. They will play with me in the event that they wish to. They will put 100 up, they’ll put 200, no matter they wish to do. I’m going with the Warriors.