LiAngelo Ball is now a full-time rapper and he will increasingly become a familiar name in this field. Following his announcement as Def Jam’s newest signee in January, he has been in an absolute streak of success. The former professional basketball player’s performance was particularly impressive as he dropped a high-energy remix of his hit song “Tweaker” featuring Lil Wayne during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend events held at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, February 15.

The event highlighted the former NBA G League prospect’s first televised presentation, coming after their performance of the popular song at the 2025 NFL playoff game. Announced by his older brother Lonzo Ball, Gelo performed with a group of Golden State Warriors dancers, weaving through the corner to recite the catchy hook from his new single. After taking his position on the court, he performed his two verses, visibly tiring towards the end.

During the performance, several top athletes and prominent sports commentators provided feedback on his latest development. Jemele Hill said, “The struggle to control his breathing put Gelo in a critical condition.” Sports commentator Skip Bayless stated, “Good for Gelo Ball.” He lacks the basketball skills his younger and older brothers possess, but he’s now made a significant name for himself in the rap industry. The critique was flattering, yet appeared somewhat prejudiced, considering Bayless’s well-known admiration for Lil Wayne, who was a guest artist on the “Tweaker” remix. While this critique was kind, it could be a bit bias seeing as though Bayless is a huge fan of Lil Wayne, who was featured on the “Tweaker” remix.

That breath control got Gelo fighting for his life

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 16, 2025

Good for Gelo Ball. He couldn’t play basketball the way his younger and older brother can, now he’s become a THING in the rap game. Unbelievable.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 16, 2025

Despite some predictions that the Gelo experiment may be short-lived, others have been enthused by the snippets of his new song that he and his brothers have been sharing on social media. Being a new sensation can be both a blessing and a curse for musicians, and while replicating the success of a debut hit may seem daunting, Gelo appears to be ready for the test.

It will be intriguing to observe how he manages his personal life after achieving a heightened level of public recognition, despite being familiar with media attention. Attention is being drawn to his alleged desertion of his children’s mother, Nikki Mudarris. The reality TV star publicly shamed him on Instagram on February 8, accusing him of abandoning her after she discovered he had impregnated another woman.

View his performance of “Tweaker” from the NBA All-Star Weekend below.