The final time the Celtics had been within the NBA Finals, Worcester, Massachusetts-born and bred rapper Joyner Lucas put his cash the place his mouth is. He wager $50,000 on the Celtics—who had been favored towards an getting older, much less athletic, barely battered Warriors staff—along with his buddy and collaborator, Bay Space legend E-40. Because the sequence went on, and the Celtics’ fortunes slowly pale, 40 tried a number of instances to name the wager off, searching for his buddy, however Joyner wouldn’t hear of it. Lucas even obtained to carry out at halftime of Sport 6, adopted shortly thereafter by the Celtics shedding the sequence, and Lucas shedding the wager. Promptly after the sequence, Lucas wired 40 the cash, which he instructed Billboard he used to “redo my swimming pool.”
Maybe that show of genuineness and integrity explains why Joyner Lucas has been capable of safe so many spectacular options in his profession. In an business crammed with rappers sparing of their reward for friends, he’s an unabashed fan, which has led many instances to the rapper in query reaching out to make music. Arguably, his greatest collaboration was with Will Smith in 2020, who contributed a uncommon verse to the remix of Lucas’ tribute, “Will”.
So this Finals—which, at 3-0 press time, has all indicators pointing to the Celtics grabbing their 18th banner—is an enormous one for Joyner. It’s been an excellent couple of weeks for the rapper total—Will Smith returned the favor, and gave Joyner what he calls his “second film appearing debut” within the blockbuster smash, Unhealthy Boys: Trip or Die.
At GQ, we love to speak playing with rappers, so a couple of weeks in the past, the very chill and gregarious Joyner was form and beneficiant sufficient to spend some unfettered time speaking Celtics odds, enjoying pool with DMX, and really almost divulging his system for roulette.
GQ: How are you feeling concerning the Celtics this 12 months?
Joyner Lucas: Celtics are wanting good.
You assume? Chip? Finals?
I talked to Tatum the opposite day. He mentioned he was going for the chip. So I mentioned, I hope so, as a result of I misplaced $50,000 due to the Celtics.
Have you ever made that again but?
[Long, incredulous glare from Joyner and his team]
Excuse me. Not by way of revenue, by way of playing income.
Oh! Playing. Have I made that again but? Yeah, I imagine we made that again.
Do you wager ceaselessly?
I actually be like—yeah, I do. I’ve slowed down a bit bit as a result of I be having some unhealthy luck generally, however I do. I am extra like, going to the on line casino, enjoying roulette, shit like that.
So that you’re extra of a on line casino man?
Yeah, I am extra of a on line casino sort of man for positive.
So I’m assuming, or no less than hoping, the Finals wager with 40 was essentially the most you ever misplaced? What’s essentially the most you’ve ever made?
On a wager? I normally simply be shedding, to maintain it actual. I simply be shedding, bro. I do not even be profitable like that. I might be placing up 50K right here and 50K there. That is just like the second or third time I misplaced 50K on a wager.
