Athletes changing careers isn’t unusual—it’s a necessity in many cases. Sports like football, basketball, and athletics come with short career spans, and once an athlete’s peak years are over, the next step is usually figuring out what comes next. Some stay in the sports world, transitioning into coaching, punditry, management, or even professional sports betting, while others venture into an entirely different path, like business, acting, or entrepreneurship. However, there is a select few who don’t wait until retirement to explore new fields.
One unusual industry that has drawn quite a few sports stars is music. Over the years, several athletes have managed to carve out successful music careers, either during their time in sports or after retirement. This article explores five athletes who also made it in the music industry. But before we dive right in, you can check out this free IPL odds checker to find the best odds for IPL bets.
LiAngelo Ball
LiAngelo Ball first came into the limelight as part of the famous Ball family, playing alongside his brothers, Lonzo and LaMelo, at Chino Hills High School. That Chino Hills high school team, coached by their father, LaVar Ball, is still considered the best team in the history of high school basketball to date. The team went undefeated in 35 games in 2016 and won the state championship.
Beyond his high school career, Gelo went on to play college basketball at UCLA, where he didn’t have a successful stint. After only featuring in one preseason game, he was suspended alongside two other freshmen following a shoplifting incident in China. Due to the suspension, Gelo was required to sit out NCAA basketball for a whole season. This led him to forgo NCAA basketball and instead pursue a professional career overseas, where he played for the Prienai in Lithuania and then in the NBA G League with the Greensboro Swarm.
Though basketball remained a passion, Gelo began exploring other opportunities, leading him to the music industry. He made his official music debut in January 2025 with his single titled Tweaker, which quickly gained viral success. The track gained even more traction when a remix featuring Lil Wayne was released the following month. It debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Gelo’s rapid rise in the music scene immediately caught the attention of major record labels, which led him to a record deal worth up to $13 million with Def Jam Recordings. Since then, he has released several tracks, including Law & Order and Can You Please?
Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a legendary boxer who enjoyed an illustrious career spanning 16 years. Nicknamed “The Golden Boy,” he won 11 world titles across six weight classes and secured lineal championships in three divisions. He also won a gold medal for Team USA in the 1992 Olympics.
In his prime, De La Hoya was recognized as the top pound-for-pound fighter by The Ring magazine in 1997 and 1998. He generated nearly $700 million in pay-per-view revenue, making him the sport’s top draw until Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao surpassed him.
While best known for his boxing accolades, De La Hoya also succeeded in the music industry. In 2000, he released a self-titled Latin pop album, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album in 2001. Though he lost to Shakira, the album was a commercial success, eventually achieving platinum certification by the RIAA in 2006.
Despite its positive reception, De La Hoya never pursued a full-fledged music career beyond this debut. However, he returned to entertainment in 2021 by competing in The Masked Dancer, where he performed as “Zebra” and finished in fourth place.
Barry Zito
Barry Zito was a dominant left-handed pitcher who spent 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), playing for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. He was a three-time All-Star and played a crucial role in helping the Giants win the 2012 World Series. He also won the American League (AL) Young Award in 2002, among other accolades.
Zito’s talents, however, extended beyond baseball, as he also pursued a music career. In 2017, he released a six-song country EP titled No Secrets. Although the project was not overly popular, it helped him gain recognition in the music industry. This led him to other opportunities, including co-writing a song for an Eddie Murphy film. Zito also appeared on The Masked Singer as “Rhino” in 2020.
Bernie Williams
Bernie Williams enjoyed a stellar 16-year MLB career with the New York Yankees. As the team’s centre fielder, Williams played a crucial role in four World Series championship victories, earning a reputation for his clutch performances. He was also a five-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove winner, and even won the American League batting title in 1998. In fact, the Yankees retired his No. 51 jersey in honour of his achievements.
Beyond baseball, Bernie Williams is also an accomplished jazz guitarist. His passion for music during his playing career led him to release two jazz albums. His second album, Moving Forward, was the most successful, spending five weeks at No. 2 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Album chart. He even earned a Latin Grammy nomination for it in 2009.
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He made an immediate impact, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award and quickly becoming the face of the franchise. Over his 11 seasons in Portland, he was named an NBA All-Star nine times, led the team to multiple playoff appearances, and became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
Lillard is playing for the Milwaukee Bucks after requesting a trade in 2023. He won the inaugural NBA Cup and the 2024 NBA All-Star Game MVP award with the Milwaukee Bucks. However, off the court, Lillard has also built a successful music career under the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A. His music career started as a social media challenge. Now he has an album, The Letter O, which reached No. 7 on Billboard’s R&B and Hip-Hop Albums chart. After the album’s release, Lillard went on to collaborate with music icons like Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Ty Dolla $ign.
Conclusion
Transitioning from sports to music is no easy feat, but these athletes have proven that passion and talent can break boundaries. They didn’t just dabble in music—they made a real impact, getting Grammy nominations, charting on Billboard, and collaborating with the best names in the industry.