At a Glance
- Snoop Dogg debuted as an NBA analyst for Peacock’s Jan. 5 Warriors-Clippers game
- He arrived early, sat in coaches meetings and interviewed Stephen Curry pre-game
- His unfiltered style included calling out Draymond Green and coining “Stephisticated”
- Why it matters: The rapper’s crossover could draw younger, diverse fans to NBA broadcasts
Snoop Dogg strolled into Inglewood’s Intuit Dome hours before tipoff, gray suit swishing, purple Chuck Taylors flashing Lakers pride. A diamond Peacock pendant caught the lights while he waited to trade rhymes for rebounds as Peacock’s newest NBA analyst.
From Rapper to Reggie’s Broadcast Partner
The Jan. 5 assignment alongside Reggie Miller and Terry Gannon wasn’t a cameo. Snoop shadowed production staffs, slipped into both Steve Kerr’s and Tyronn Lue’s meetings, and cornered Stephen Curry for a courtside interview long before fans arrived.
> “I don’t believe NBC would have gave me this opportunity if they thought I was coming in there playing games,” Snoop said, citing his viral Paris Olympics turn and ongoing Voice role as proof he can handle live, unscripted TV.
What He Did Behind the Mic
Once the second-half broadcast began, Snoop:
- Roasted Draymond Green for jacking-and bricking-threes while praising his point-forward vision
- Noted Curry fighting through a third-quarter ankle tweak
- Compared on-court chemistry to “cookies and cream like they about to open up a cookie shop”
- Dubbed Curry “Stephisticated” and a scoring flurry “two-piece chicken nuggets”
When Kerr earned an ejection for arguing a goaltending call, Snoop barked “Inglewood” as the crowd erupted, cutting through the chaos with hometown flavor.
Players and Crew Cosign His Cred
Curry, interviewed pre-game, said Snoop “gave me three really straightforward basketball questions” and later proved “a great addition” on air.
Miller, an 18-year NBA vet, pointed to Snoop’s prep: “Questions that he asked in the coaches meetings… He could have just sat back and listened. No, he’s getting his hands dirty.”
Gannon agreed: “It’s not like he’s just showing up and saying ‘I’m here.’ He put in the work and effort. The broadcast was seamless because of that.”
Study Game: Chick Hearn Tapes and Average Joes
Snoop said he studied late Lakers legend Chick Hearn and sees himself as “the average Joe, despite being a well-known celebrity,” translating hoops nuance to casual viewers.
> “The NBA has moved forward to where it deserves to have people like me who understands the game, know the game and can speak to the game and also bring new viewers.”
Next Up: Winter Olympics and All-Star Week
Snoop will reprise his correspondent role for NBC’s Milan Cortina coverage, serve as an honorary Team USA coach, and host an event with Kawhi Leonard during NBA All-Star week.
> “I feel like I’m progressing myself as a full-on entertainer,” he said. “I would love to do more of this.”
Key Takeaways
- Snoop’s early arrival, film study and unfiltered commentary won veteran respect
- His crossover appeal targets younger, diverse audiences for the NBA and Peacock
- More Olympic and All-Star appearances signal a long-term NBCUniversal partnership
