Few musicians embody their passions outside of music quite like Flea, the legendary bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Among his many loves, basketball holds a special place, particularly his devotion to the Los Angeles Lakers. In a candid reflection, he shares how his journey as a basketball fan began and the deep emotional connection he has with the game.
Falling in Love With Basketball
“My mom took me in ‘75 to a Lakers game right when they got Kareem, and we’re up in the nosebleeds in The Forum watching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and I just fell in love with him,” Flea recalls. “And I’d start seeing in the newspapers different things he would say and things he would do; and it was just that hook shot and the way that he moved and the goggles. … He was just this extraterrestrial being, you know?”
From those early days, his admiration for Kareem evolved into an unbreakable bond with the Lakers, especially during the Showtime era.
“Those Showtime Lakers: Magic and Kareem and then they have Michael Cooper and Byron Scott and Mychal Thompson. … That whole team was so beautiful to me. Magic Johnson would run the fast break and just…didn’t know what was going to happen. I’m telling you man, it was thrilling! You couldn’t take your eyes off them.”
Comparing Magic to Modern Players
Flea appreciates today’s stars but feels Magic’s game was unique.
“No I don’t. They’re both phenomenal players. Grant Hill was great. LeBron could be the greatest player of all time. It’s just different though. It’s that fast break with Magic — he passed BEHIND his head! And it wasn’t just to be fancy, he did it because he KNEW it was going to work and no one knew it was coming, you know?”
While acknowledging LeBron’s greatness, he insists that Magic’s style remains unparalleled: “Magic was a 6’9” point guard with eyes in the back of his head who could do it ALL. Now LeBron might be the most similar in terms of the size and all the abilities and I think LeBron has grown to be a better shooter than Magic but not like that. Not the fast break.”
The Michael Jordan Effect
Flea recognizes Jordan’s dominance: “I think Michael is the GREATEST one-on-one player of all time. On offense and maybe on defense. When he locks somebody down, you know what I mean?” However, for him, Magic’s greatness came from his ability to uplift his teammates. “Magic’s like, I’m going to go out there tonight and I’m going to make everybody’s light shine as great as it can be…and that’s what he did.”
Experiencing Courtside Magic
Once his career took off, Flea got to live every basketball fan’s dream: “It was ‘89 or ‘90 when we signed with Warner Bros. Records; I still didn’t have the money to afford seats like that, but, Mo Ostin, who was a great man back then on Warner Bros. Records, he had courtside center seats and he used to give them to us all the time and I’d sit center court and I couldn’t even believe it and it’s Magic and Kareem.”
Even today, the magic hasn’t worn off. “Every time I sit in those seats I STILL have that feeling like, I can’t believe how amazing this is! For anyone that loves basketball, it’s like going to the ballet or something, you know? It’s like going to see these guys are so beautiful to watch and play. I love it man.”
The Spirituality of Basketball
For Flea, basketball goes beyond competition — it’s an art form, a philosophy. Reflecting on greatness, he says, “You can know all the stuff, know what to do, be a good teammate, you could’ve done all the work. … But can you surrender and trust your spirit and let it fly, you know what I mean? Can you surrender your heart to the moment and be completely trusting to let your spirit take over and go beyond thought — beyond work, beyond diligence.”
He connects it to music and life, citing jazz legend Charlie Parker: “You got to do all your work. You got to do all your theory. You got to do all the studies, but then you have to forget it all and trust yourself.”
Memories of Kobe Bryant
Flea had a few interactions with Kobe Bryant, and while they weren’t extensive, they left a lasting impression. “Yeah. Several. Nothing major. Just greetings and stuff, but he was always real cool with me. The last time I saw him I was sitting in my seat, and he came up walking behind me and he stopped and gave me a hug from behind; I didn’t know who it was and I turned around, and it’s Kobe and he said, ‘I appreciate you man.’”
One moment stands out before a crucial game: “I think it was the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs and I did the anthem and I was in hallway in the back waiting to do the anthem and he came out and I knew when he came out, but I knew he had the game face on, like serious, you know what I mean?” Despite the intensity of the moment, Kobe still made time for a quick greeting. “He went out of his way to come over and say hello and I really appreciated that, you know? Because he knew my energy was dedicated.”
A Lifelong Passion
Flea’s love for basketball, and particularly the Lakers, is unwavering. From listening to Chick Hearn on the phone while touring in Europe to appreciating the nuances of today’s game, his fandom runs deep. “Since then, the early 80’s I haven’t missed a Laker game.”
For him, basketball isn’t just a game; it’s a lifelong love affair, an art, and a spiritual journey.
