NBA legend Ray Allen talks to Complex correspondent Speedy Morman; Photo: Complex

At Nike’s Art of a Champion event in New York City, Complex Magazine‘s Speedy Morman caught up with NBA legends Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace and Julius Erving to talk shoes, hoops and hip-hop. Morman took time out of his interview to find out what the NBA icons thought about being name-dropped by some of hip-hop’s biggest stars.

Morman started with Jesus Shuttlesworth, and asked what the two-time NBA champ thought about “Gone for the Winter” where Fabulous raps:

Like Ray Allen in game 6, when James missed
Then Bosh tapped it to him
You know what had happened to ’em, swish
It’s all about a swish

Allen dug the verse saying, “I thought it was dope. Any time you’re in one of Fabolous’ songs, it’s incredible. He, too, is an icon. He’s somebody that’s been in the rap game for such a long time. When he spits that fire, people listen to him.”

Morman then asked Rasheed Wallace about French Montana‘s “Pop That,” where Montana raps:

Thirty chains on my collar
Two drops, no mileage
Top off like Wallace
And I’m inhaling smoke, bitch know that

That particular drop is a bit obscure; it’s in reference to Wallace’s Sixth Sense patch on the back of his head. Morman asked Wallace to rate it on a scale of one-to-five stars, and Wallace responded positively saying “I’m rocking with French. I give it about three or four.”

And last but not least, Dr. J was asked about Kurtis Blow‘s legendary “Basketball.” Blow raps:

Basketball is my favorite sport
I like the way they dribble up and down the court
Just like I’m the king on the microphone
So is Dr. J and Moses Malone

In classic Dr. J fashion, the NBA Hall of Famer played it cool. The normally stingy Erving (see dunk contest) acknowledged the creativity saying, “I’ve heard the song many times. And, Kurtis Blow, I have to give it a five out of five. You know, it’s had a good following. People still remember it and refer to it every now and then. It keeps me alive and it keeps him alive.”

Basketball and rap are a natural fit, and while these particular verses aren’t the greatest among the pantheon, it was cool to see the legends react in person.

Watch the full Complex video below.