In Charlotte, celebrity sightings at NBA games aren't exactly a nightly occurrence. Unlike the glitzy sidelines of Lakers or Knicks games, Hornets home games tend to fly a little more under the radar. But when hometown pride meets star power, sometimes you get a moment that reminds you just how deep basketball fandom can run - especially when it involves someone like DaBaby.
The rapper, born in Cleveland but raised in Charlotte, has never been shy about repping his city. And when the Hornets hosted the Chicago Bulls during the final round of NBA In-Season Tournament group play, DaBaby made it clear whose side he was on.
As he made his way to his seat, a fan wearing a Bulls jersey asked for a photo. DaBaby agreed - but only on one condition: the jersey had to come off.
The fan, clearly eager to get a picture with the chart-topping artist, didn’t hesitate. Off came the Bulls jersey, and the moment quickly went viral.
DaBaby posed for the photo, all smiles, standing with the fan now free of enemy colors. Say what you want about loyalty - DaBaby’s got it in spades when it comes to the Hornets.
And on that night, his team gave him something to cheer about. Charlotte pulled out a 123-116 win over the Bulls, with LaMelo Ball turning in a well-rounded performance: 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. It wasn’t a dominant stat line, but it was the kind of steady production that’s become a signature of Ball’s game when he’s healthy and in rhythm.
Unfortunately for both teams, the win wasn’t enough to push either into the semifinals of the NBA Cup. Charlotte and Chicago are both on the outside looking in as the league’s inaugural mid-season tournament moves into its final stages.
For the Bulls, the loss is part of a troubling trend. After a promising start to the season, they’ve hit a rough patch - and the rumblings of change are growing louder.
Reports have surfaced that the front office is eyeing a significant roster shake-up. Names like Pascal Siakam have been floated as potential targets - the kind of versatile, two-way forward who could complement Josh Giddey, the young playmaker the Bulls appear ready to build around.
There’s even been some buzz - speculative, but intriguing - about a potential push to bring Anthony Davis back to his hometown of Chicago. Davis is currently with the Dallas Mavericks, but the idea of pairing him with Giddey and retooling the roster around that core has caught some attention.
Whether the Bulls actually pull the trigger on a blockbuster move remains to be seen. But the message is clear: the current core may have run its course, and the front office looks ready to pivot toward a win-now mentality.
In the meantime, moments like DaBaby’s courtside cameo offer a reminder that, even in a season of uncertainty, the connection between a team and its city - and its stars - still matters. Charlotte may not be a marquee market, but on this night, it had the spotlight. And for DaBaby and Hornets fans, that was more than enough.