Forget the game's biggest stars, the wily veterans, the explosive off-the-bench-scorers. Not one of the so-called experts predicted this, but the NBA Playoffs' biggest X-factor has been none of the above. It's been a Berkeley, California, rapper called Lil B the Based God.
This rare story is one that involves an Internet-famous rapper, the NBA's MVP runner-up, accusations of plagiarism, threats of retaliation, prophecies of failure and, finally, a hex -- all while precariously toeing the line between satire and real-life.
We know you've wondered over the past few days what this "Based God's Curse" is that's burning up the airwaves, racking up the page-views and causing giggle fits across all forms of media; so wonder no more.
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We're here to help with a primer on the mayhem. First, our dramatis personae for this bit of supernatural beef:
Lil B: Rapper who's not signed to a label but built his own empire of sorts on YouTube, Twitter and Tumblr. Supreme leader of the based lifestyle, hence his Based God nickname. First tasted prominence as a member of The Pack, the Berkeley one-hit wonders behind the 2009 hit "Vans." Self-professed basketball player. A person whose fans -- which are legion -- laugh with him more than at him. Others just laugh at him. A jester, seer and cult leader for modern times.
James Harden: The NBA's MVP runner-up, and one of its very best players. Currently leading the Houston Rockets agains the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. (Important to this story: Lil B is a Bay Area native and Warriors fan.)
Kevin Durant: Historical figure in the annals of the Based God's Curse, Durant is among the greatest NBA players of our generation. Has, however, run into a string of tough luck since crossing Lil B a couple years back. More on that later.
Now, our story: It starts with with a stir. Harden, you see, often celebrates his scores with this cooking motion:
He’s cookin’ 25 points and counting. pic.twitter.com/J3PhluNVPE— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 26, 2015
The only problem? Lil B claims to have invented "cooking" as a metaphor for doing something with proficiency back in 2010. He even posted this 10-minute "cooking" tutorial on July 6 of that year. It has since been viewed more than 2 million times and explains the various levels of chefdom to which one can aspire.
Lil B didn't take exception to Harden's gesture -- until last Thursday before the Rockets took on Lil B's Warriors in Game 2 of their series last Thursday. Then he put out the word on these Internet streets:
Go warriors @warriors and let James harden no he doing the Lil B cooking dance if he doing that flickin wrist or whipping he mark - Lil B— Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) May 21, 2015
People that steal from Lil B will pay now or later all you have to do is pay respect to the original and the leader blind ones will - Lil B— Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) May 22, 2015
Haha. Funny joke, right? Given the history of the Based God's Curse (more on that later), however, fans took this and ran with it. Rockets supporters begged Lil B to spare them, online news outlets covered it aplenty and Lil B got shout-outs on mainstream TV. The Atlanta Hawks -- who are in the Eastern Conference Finals -- even took to Twitter pleading with Lil B not to curse them too.
But maybe it wasn't such a joke after all! The Rockets lost Game 2 by a single point. In the game's final seconds, Harden had the ball and a chance to win but lost possession then knelt on the court in disappointment. Cue the Lil B memes from a gleeful Internet:
#tybg #THEBASEDGOD #BasedGodCurse @LILBTHEBASEDGOD pic.twitter.com/enLWGgnBWk— VIEWS FROM THE 6IX (@officialD52K) May 24, 2015
THE BASED GOD CURSE STRIKES AGAIN http://t.co/9sAlLZbXiS pic.twitter.com/iQlKkGuPfX— SB Nation (@SBNation) May 22, 2015
In Game 3 on Saturday, the Warriors blew out Houston by 35 points -- which Lil B used to fire another warning at Harden. This was, of course, met with even more glee.
James harden looses by 35 points Kevin durant who is cursed right now jersey number is 35 harden has been warned we need answers - Lil B— Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) May 24, 2015
We support @LILBTHEBASEDGOD in his demand for answers. http://t.co/KQekeGjnNK pic.twitter.com/RmIwGK2FoM— SB Nation (@SBNation) May 24, 2015
Harden, however, would get his revenge later in the weekend -- the story of this historic clash is far from over.
But first, some history.
Kevin Durant and the original Based God's Curse
This isn't the first time Lil B has trained the Dark Side of his based force on an NBA star. Oh no, far from it.
Back in 2011, Durant was unwise enough to diss Lil B's music on Twitter.
I tried to listen to Lil B and my mind wouldn't let me do it....can't believe this guy is relevant— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 29, 2011
Lil B went thermonuclear on Durant in retaliation, leveling history's first Based God's Curse against an NBA player. It was an extremely rare moment that a relative few were blessed enough to witness back in 2011.
I tried to listen to Lil B and my mind wouldn't let me do it....can't believe this guy is relevant— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 29, 2011
They sparred back and forth on Twitter for a spell -- you can check out Grantland's full rundown from last year for more -- but things may have hit their apex last March when Lil B released a diss track with the apropos chorus, "fuuuuuuuuuck Keviiiiiiinnnn Durrraaaaaant." (Warning: NSFW lyrics.)
Durant won the MVP in 2014, but suffered through an injury-plagued year this season. Also -- just as Lil B prophesied -- he has not won a championship. The curse also led to this classic Sports Illustrated mockup put together by one Lil B loyalist.
@LILBTHEBASEDGOD another gift to you on this holy day basedgod pic.twitter.com/J8XxtYo269— phillip (@phillip_nguyen) March 10, 2014
Durant, it seems, has not solved the riddle of the Based God's Curse. Harden, however, may be a different story -- as he proved in impressive fashion in Game 5 on Monday night.
Can Harden reverse the curse?
Harden -- not surprisingly -- hasn't dignified Lil B's hexes with any direct comment through the media. But the curse appeared to work in Game 3, when he fumbled the Rockets' chance for a win, and in Game 4, when the Warriors blew Houston out by 35 (which is, as Lil B astutely pointed out, Durant's jersey number).
But Game 5 was a different story. Harden exploded for 45 points as the Rockets used the Warriors to mop up their home floor in jumping out to a 20-point first-half lead while notching their first win of the series. Golden State still holds a 3-1 lead in the series, however, and Houston would be the first team in NBA playoffs history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit.
Still, it appears as if -- maybe, just maybe -- Harden shook the Based God's Curse thrown upon him by Lil B.
Now, however, the series shifts back to Oakland for Game 5 on Wednesday night and our plot thickens again.
.@LILBTHEBASEDGOD will be gracing Oracle Arena with his presence on Wednesday. #TYBG #DubNation— Oracle Arena (@OracleArena) May 26, 2015
Lil B announced on Monday night that he'll make an extremely rare in-person appearance at Oakland's Oracle Arena for Game 5, presumably to curse Harden in person.
One can only imagine what this saga has to offer next -- but we can rest assured that, whatever the future brings, it will be #based.