Who could ever forget the greatness that was Metallica? An 80s band filled with complete rock legends who have given the world some of the best music over the years. But did you know that Lars Ulrich, the drummer of the legendary band, did not always want to be a rock star? In fact, when he was younger and in Denmark, the young man believed that he was one of the greats and that he would go down in history.

While those plans may not have worked out, he did wind up being part of one of the most popular bands in the world. With popularity like that and an evident love for sports, it is no wonder that the 59-year-old has some rather famous sports personalities as friends.

Metallica’s drummer opens up about a basketball legend

Recently, Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich went on a celebrity-hosted podcast called SmartLess. During his casual conversation with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, the star was asked about his long-time friend, Michael Cooper Jr., who was a force to be reckoned with in basketball back in his day. Ulrich went on to say that Cooper was texting him as he was on the show and revealed that he has even got a whooping “23 texts showing up one at a time.”

Lars Ulrich even added that each text was sent “with love and kisses.” And revealed that he constantly gets updates from the 67-year-old coach. From pictures of him driving to switching up his hairstyle, Cooper tends to keep Ulrich in the loop no matter what. And it seems as though the world-famous summer is enjoying every bit of his friendship with the coach.

But while Ulrich may love his sports and their personalities, here’s the reason why the Metallica star was never able to achieve his own dreams of becoming a pro tennis star.

Lars Ulrich could have been a tennis star?

During the same interview with SmartLess, Lars Ulrich talked about his life before he joined Metallica, who surprised fans with their love for Stranger Things. While most fans of the drummer already know, he used to be a tennis player back in Denmark. Although it may be unsurprising considering he comes from a family of tennis stars, his father and grandfather. Ulrich recalled that although he “was ranked in the top 10 consistently” back home, it was not the case once he moved to Southern California.

After trying out for the team, Lars Ulrich revealed that he “did not make the f***in’ tennis team” and that was the end of all his dreams of being a pro tennis player. But it was also the reason that he took an interest in music. It helped him “escape” the disciplines he had learned in the game. While it may be sad, there is no doubt the music world is glad his plans did not work out as they were given a musical icon.

What do you think about Lars Ulrich being a tennis star instead of Metallica’s drummer? Let us know in the comments below.