"I always pictured Kelly as listening to Slipknot" - JJ Redick was shocked to learn Kelly Olynyk was a huge fan of hip-hop

As the old adage goes, do not judge a book by its cover. However, more often than not, NBA players are usually immediately typecast into certain stereotypes based on their appearance. However, sometimes, these judgments can be completely wrong.

A perfect example of this was how JJ Redick believed that Canadian big man Kelly Olynyk seemed like the type who listened to the music of American heavy metal band Slipknot before games to pump himself up. However, Redick was corrected by former NBA veterans Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner.

NBA players and the music they listen to

With such a wide range of personalities in the NBA, it’s no surprise their music tastes are just as diverse. While many players often bump a lot of hip-hop music in the locker room before games, during practices, and even during games, some enjoy different genres.

Jimmy Butler, for one, is an avid fan of country music, while the great Michael Jordan admitted to listening to the music of R&B singer and songwriter Kenny Lattimore before games.

Redick, though, was convinced that Olynyk, a 6’11” standout from Gonzaga, hyped himself up before games by listening to Slipknot, a band from Des Moines, Iowa, that made a name for itself in the late 1990s and the early 2000s with their intense nu metal sound.

JJ, though, couldn’t be any further from the truth. Evan revealed that all Kelly listened to was hip-hop.

“Kelly listen to all hip-hop. He did the 40 Bar Friday, I think,” Turner disclosed, much to Redick’s surprise.

Iggy chimed in that Olynyk had skills to spit rhymes.

“Oh, he was a rapper, though. Kelly was a rapper. Kelly raps, raps, raps,” Iguodala chimed in.

“I always pictured Kelly listening to, like, Slipknot,” JJ responded.

Turner, though, pushed back against that notion, stating how Olynyk was embraced by everyone in the locker room.

“Kelly — no, Kelly’s one of the boys. That’s right. That’s one of the homies. Yeah, he’s a good dude. You would like Kelly,” ET emphasized.

The relationship between basketball and music

Basketball and music have always been intertwined since time immemorial. From Marvin Gaye’s soul-stirring rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” during the 1983 All-Star Game to popular rappers like Jay-Z and Drake name-dropping NBA basketball players in their lyrics, the bond between these two worlds is undeniable.

However, it’s not just about name-dropping and appearances. For many players, music serves as a source of inspiration and motivation before games. It helps them get into the right mindset to compete at the highest level.

Take the legendary Kobe Bryant, for example, who once listened to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” for two straight years. It wasn’t because the Black Mamba loved the song, but because it symbolized his relentless pursuit of vengeance.

This was because during the 2008 NBA Finals, the song was played repeatedly, which Kobe associated with the Los Angeles Lakers’ bitter rivals and the team that defeated them in that championship round, the Boston Celtics. Fortunately for Bryant, he didn’t have to listen to that ditty after 2010, which was when the Purple & Gold defeated the C’s for the Larry O’Brien trophy.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“I always pictured Kelly as listening to Slipknot” – JJ Redick was shocked to learn Kelly Olynyk was a huge fan of hip-hop

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