Multi-platinum rapper and Indian entertainment icon Badshah made his debut at the 2026 Ruffles® NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, joining a roster of global stars for one of the marquee events of the NBA All-Star Weekend.
A lifelong basketball enthusiast, Badshah brought his passion for the sport to the court, playing on a team coached by NBA shooting coach Lethal Shooter, Emmy®-winning actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, and NBA player development trainer Chris Brickley.
Badshah teamed up with actor Simu Liu against a squad that included Emmy-winning actor-producer Keegan-Michael Key and several other celebrities and NBA enthusiasts.
Known as a multifaceted musical artist, Badshah has been recognised as the only Indian artist with eighteen distinct chart-topping singles, each surpassing 300 million views on YouTube. As a singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, mentor, entrepreneur and reality television show judge, he continues to expand the global footprint of Indian pop and hip-hop music.
The game featured an array of athletes, entertainers and cultural figures, including seven-time Olympic medalist sprinter Andre De Grasse, multi-platinum producer and DJ Mustard, NFL All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Brazilian FIFA World Cup-winning football legend Cafu, among others.
The appearance marked a high-profile crossover moment for Badshah, bringing Indian music and entertainment representation to a global sporting stage during one of basketball’s most widely viewed weekends.
