The NBA is not pleased with attention-seeking Canadian rapper Drake. As you may recall, the Toronto Raptors invented the bootleg “global ambassador” title to console Drake after he was humiliated by the Miami Heat security staff following the 2013 NBA championship.
But now the NBA claims Drake is letting that title go to his head.
The NBA’s league office recently imposed a stiff fine of $25,000 on the Raptors after Drake mentioned signing NBA superstar Kevin Durant to the Raptors.
The incident took place at Drake’s OVO festival in Toronto last week. Drake told the crowd at the Moulson Canadian Amphitheater:
“Before we leave, I just want to show one of my brothers something. You know, my brother Kevin Durant was kind enough to come to the show tonight and watch us. I just want him to see what would happen if he came to play in Toronto. Let him know what would happen.”
The crowd responded by cheering and chanting Durant’s name. The NBA was not pleased when the viral video landed in their Inbox.
Word came down from on high to the Raptors that the $25,000 fine would be dropped if the team fired the sensitive rapper.
From SOHH.com:
Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Globe and Mail dissected the whole odd situation and noted that at one point, “the NBA offered to drop the tampering fine if the team agreed to strip Drake of his title. The Raptors apparently refused.” Obviously, Drake’s presence is worth more than $25,000, but why would the NBA draw the line here, especially since everyone is going to “tamper” with Durant over the next couple of years? (Washington Post)
Yesterday reports claimed his comments at his OVO Fest last week ended up becoming costly for the Raps.
Toronto Raptors global ambassador and semi-famous musician of note Drake thought he could escape the NBA’s tentacles by recruiting concert attendee Kevin Durant to Toronto in the safe confines of thousands of fans at OVO Fest in Toronto. He was sorely mistaken. “Hearing Raptors fined $25,000 for comments Drake made at a concert about Kevin Durant that were seen as violation of anti-tampering rules” (SB Nation).
Spotted on EbenGregory.com
