When the Toronto Raptors recruited Drake as their official ambassador last September, they probably weren’t expecting the stalwart Canadian to cost them thousands of dollars in fines. Unfortunately for both parties, Drake is learning that you can get away with saying a lot more in hip-hop than you can in professional sports.
During Drizzy’s OVO Fest in Toronto, the YMCMB rapper gave a shout-out to Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant, who was in the audience that night. “I just want to see what would happen if he came to play in Toronto,” Drake said to thunderous applause. Durant will become a free agent in 2016.
While that’s an innocent enough comment coming from a fan, Drake is no longer just the Raptors’ most famous cheerleader: He’s their official ambassador. So the NBA saw his comments as a recruiting pitch and fined the Raptors $25,000 for violating anti-tampering rules, ESPN reports.
Presumably the rapper will take care to watch his basketball-related comments during future concerts.
Aside from costing the Raptors $25,000, Drake also brought out Usher, Lauryn Hill and 50 Cent during OVO Fest 2014.
