INTERVIEW: Jussie Smollett Speaks Basketball, Drake & More At NBA Awards

iHeartRadio spoke to some of your favorite celebrities at the 2017 NBA Awards red carpet on Monday (June 26) night and Empire's very own Jussie Smollett was one of them!

"I'm excited to be here with my little homie, Kaden. I'm excited to bring him to see all his favorite players and maybe get to meet a few, so it'll be a good time," the actor/singer told us. Smollett also revealed that he's been just as much of a basketball fan than music and acting fan, since day one. 

He said: "I've always been a [basketball] fan. We grew up in New York. So, you have to realize we were all about the Knicks. But then, it became the whole battle of the Knicks and the Bulls, and the Bulls took over."

We also asked the Empire star who he thought would win in a one-on-one game between the host of the NBA Awards, Drake, and the performer of the night, Nicki Minaj. "You ain't gonna get me in trouble with Nicki or Drake. No comment," Smollett laughed. He was also very happy to see Drizzy hosting the sporting event. He said: "He killed Saturday Night Live and he loves basketball. So, I feel like he's the perfect host for this. Ain't nobody better than him right now."

Before the interview was over, Smollett also told us who's the number one singer he listens to before he goes on set. "Now, I've really have been listening straight up to Michael Kiwanuka, who's this amazing artist out of the UK," the actor admitted. "He's so dope and his song 'Black Man In A White Man's World' is one of my favorites. I've been listening to a lot of that, lately. Fo' sho."

Photo: Getty Images


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