Lil Wayne Clarifies NBA Controversy After Allegedly Being "Banned"

by Andres Vasquez

                            

Lil Wayne explains his issue with the NBA and how it was resolved.

While Lil Wayne has been involved in feuds with other emcees, his most recent beef has been with the NBA and the Miami Heat. The feud stems from a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. At the game, Wayne exchanged words with Heat player Dwyane Wade. Weezy then left the arena and said he was kicked out. During NBA's All-Star weekend, Wayne shouted to a crowd of fans about how he was "banned" by the NBA. He also had negative things to say about the Heat and several players.
"I don’t apologize for that night," Wayne explained to 99 Jamz in Miami. "I don’t apologize for being who I am. That’s who I am, this is who I am, and yes I did say those things. Only thing I do want to take back from saying that night is I said, ‘F LeBron.’ I didn’t mean to say that because me and LeBron we are cool and I’m really cool with his mom and we have a real good relationship, and that’s my homie but it just slipped out. I didn’t mean to say that. Other than that though, I don’t take nothing back.”
He went on to explain why he felt he was banned by the NBA, an allegation that has since been cleared up.
"[Indiana Pacers forward] Gerald Green wanted to involve me in one of his dunks [for NBA's dunk contest]. I think he wanted to jump over me while I was skating. Anyway, everything was cool to do it and then after that happened [in Miami], they called him and told him, 'We'd rather you not have Lil Wayne be involved in your dunk. We'd rather it be someone else.' Homie gave me the word about that."  
That wasn't it. According to Wayne, the problem continued when he was pulled from a performance.
"I was also supposed to perform with Alicia [Keys] at halftime of the All-Star game. I was pulled from that as well. Then I tried to get tickets just to attend the event and I was told I couldn't have any tickets."
However, Weezy went on to note that he has finally received clarification as to why the NBA preferred not to have him participate in the All-Star game celebrations.
"David Stern said he heard about what happened in Miami and that he knows I'm a passionate fan," he explained. "Basically saying, 'We want to protect the players from you.' Something like that."
Lil Wayne is a known sports fan. His love of sports has even allowed him to start his own sports program and appear on ESPN several times.