Even if hip-hop has had a strong impact on basketball, it doesn't mean to me that we must then pay homage by playing mostly hip-hop on soundtracks. Jazz could be argued to have had a bigger impact on the game, yet we don't see folks clamoring for more jazz due to its impact on the game.
Speaking for myself, I want music on my games I enjoy at some level. And I'm not sure I agree people don't believe NHL soundtracks need diversity. I didn't like NHL 2K's soundtrack. But they offered custom menu music. So you know what I played? Hip-hip, rap, rock, and The Last of the Mohicans soundtrack. You're right though, I'd hate Dire Straits on an NBA soundtrack, because I don't enjoy that type of music whatsoever.
In my case, often rap seems so tied to basketball largely because people think it's supposed to be. Undoubtedly, many basketball players listen to rap. We all don't though. But oftentimes, it seems the only music someone wants to put on a mixtape is in fact, rap. Personally, I love a lot of hip-hop/rap basketball mixes, but I also enjoy when certain rock songs are mixed in. To me, it works just as well:
And it's true, folks may not enjoy basketball clips set to Nine Inch Nails or the Offspring. But that doesn't mean it's a foregone conclusion these highlights will automatically work better set to Lil' Wayne.