"Just a boy from India, blessed to be here."
Badshah reflected on his appearance in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game after becoming the first Indian rapper to play in the game.
The match was held on February 13, 2026, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
It featured a special halftime performance by CORTIS, marking the first Celebrity Game Halftime performance by a K-pop artist.
Badshah was part of Team Anthony, which was coached by actor and comedian Anthony Anderson.
Some of Badshah’s teammates included Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse, record producer Mustard and Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Badshah shared a video of the experience and detailed his love for basketball.
He wrote: “Basketball, amongst other things, was one of my first loves.
“Grew up watching the legends like [Michael] Jordan, [Allen] Iverson, Kobe [Bryant], T-Mac [Tracy McGrady], play on TV early in the morning before going to school.
“Staying back in school to practice ball without a coach. I’m talking back in 90’s. Forget NBA, hoping to play someday on a wooden court with rims that don’t bend or break.”
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Emphasising what it meant to play in the All-Star Celebrity Game, Badshah added:
“The fire was real. NBA is truly magical.
“The will was so real that god put me on the court with the greats. Took a different route and almost 25 years. But here is the boy.”
“Just a boy from India, blessed to be here.”
Other celebrity players included Brazilian football icon Cafu, actor Keegan-Michael Key and rapper GloRilla.
Although Badshah’s side did not win the match, the experience was a memorable one for the music artist.
Before his NBA appearance, Badshah had performed at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Mumbai. His act was an instant hit at Wankhede Stadium, with Nora Fatehi later joining.
Badshah now looks forward to performing at The O2 in London.
He will be the first Indian rapper to headline the famous arena, which will be on March 22.
He said: “Headlining The O2 is more than a milestone; it’s a dream I’ve carried for years.
“Desi hip-hop belongs on the global stage, and this show is our declaration.
“London, we’re about to make history together – louder, prouder and bigger than ever. 22nd March 2026 will be a night we remember forever.”
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