Zion Williamson Walks Out of Press Conference After Being Asked Why Kendrick Lamar Isn’t On His Playlist

The NBA hosted its annual Media Day around the league on Monday (Sept. 30) to set the 2024-2025 season in motion. Players are peppered with a range of questions including one being about their summer workout playlists. New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson, an avid rap fan, was asked about his playlist, which boasts a wide range of artists from Nas to Larry June and hometown hero Curren$y.

“[The] Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die, that’s always in the mix,” he said. “Nas, Illmatic. Gotta throw Larry June up there. A lot of Curren$y. When I started training, I feel like Curren$y was heavy in the mix.”

One reporter took exception to Zion’s playlist and wondered why he didn’t have any of Kendrick Lamar’s Drake disses in rotation this summer. “I just feel like you have two good songs you could’ve been playing in the gym,” he said before the 24-year-old hooper asked which he was referring to. The reporter continued, “‘Euphoria’ and ‘Not Like Us.’ Where was the greatness of the summer in your tracklist?”

Williamson was taken aback by the reporter’s persistence, but explained that while he doesn’t have anything against Kendrick Lamar, Zion also doesn’t feel the need to amplify his greatness with a legacy secured as one of the genre’s titans.

“I hear you. But you know, you’re entitled to your opinion. I’m entitled to mine, but saying that c’mon, it’s Kendrick Lamar,” the former Duke Blue Devil fired back. “Like, I really gotta sit up here and talk about how good of an artist he is?”

Zion didn’t want to engage in any further banter and eventually just left the podium altogether to bring his presser to an early close.

Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has remained in the Billboard Hot 100‘s top 10 since its release where it sits at No. 10 on the latest chart. As for “Euphoria,” the Drake diss peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100.

Watch the exchange between Zion and the reporter below.