{"id":5358,"date":"2025-05-01T04:20:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T04:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/5358\/"},"modified":"2025-05-01T04:20:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T04:20:15","slug":"gucci-mane-nba-referee-twin-james-williams-finally-meet-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/5358\/","title":{"rendered":"Gucci Mane & NBA Referee Twin James Williams Finally Meet"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tGucci Mane<\/a> finally linked up with his doppelg\u00e4nger, NBA referee James Williams.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Atlanta rapper attended the playoff game between the Cleveland Cavs and the Miami Heat on Tuesday (April 29), and posted a picture<\/a> on Instagram of himself and Williams having a courtside chat.<\/p>\n

\n\tBack in 2021, NBA superstar Ja Morant reshared a photo <\/a>of himself and Williams posted by the NBA\u2019s Latin America X page, writing, \u201cMe & Gucci,\u201d and it went viral. And ever since, Williams said fans and players only refer to him as \u201cGucci or Guwop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tExplore\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\tExplore\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

See latest videos, charts and news<\/p>\n

See latest videos, charts and news<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI am Gucci Mane, at this point that\u2019s who I am,\u201d Williams told the Crown Refs podcast back in 2023. \u201cI\u2019m actually shocked when somebody on the floor calls me James. Nobody calls me James, everybody calls me Gucci or Guwop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe continued by saying that he doesn\u2019t take it seriously and actually finds the situation funny. \u201cI\u2019ve really just embraced it. I think that it humanizes us,\u201d he said. \u201cReferees who are just the cops out there, I\u2019m not a big fan of \u2019cause that\u2019s not how I referee. I like to go out there, I like to have fun; engage the fans, the players, the coaches. While we have a job to do, you should still have fun while you\u2019re doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe added, \u201cOnce that thing went viral, just like my life has been completely altered forever. It\u2019s a part of who I am at this point. Nobody calls me James, it\u2019s really quite comical to be honest with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

@crownrefs<\/a> <\/p>\n

In this classic clip from episode 304 of the Crown Refs Podcast, NBA Finals referee James \u201cGucci\u201d Williams talks about his famous nickname and how he\u2019s embraced it because it\u2019s fun and humanizes officials. Be sure to check out the RefMasters app, available for iOS and Android. @RefMasters <\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 Crown Refs<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n\tHe then told a funny story about a time when he was in Chicago catching a flight and a random youth basketball team wanted to take a picture with him. \u201cThe other day I was in O\u2019Hare and there was a basketball team walking through,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI\u2019m walking to my gate and they\u2019re like, \u2018That\u2019s the Gucci Mane ref. Can we get a picture?\u2019 I think it\u2019s funny, I really do. I don\u2019t take myself too seriously. We get to referee a kid\u2019s game for a living.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWilliams has been in regular rotation during the NBA playoffs this year, so fans will be seeing more of Gucci Mane\u2019s twin reffing games.<\/p>\n