Drake, an ambassador for the Raptors, also has close friendships with LeBron James and Stephen CurryNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Noted Raptors fan DRAKE "represents the new NBA," as the rapper is the "dream personification of what the league is now -- youngish (32), international and credible among players," according to Sopan Deb of the N.Y. TIMES. Drake, who regularly sits courtside in Toronto, is a "different kind of superfan" than what SPIKE LEE is to the Knicks, or what BILLY CRYSTAL and JACK NICHOLSON are to the Clippers and Lakers, respectively. While an official team ambassador for the Raptors, Drake's NBA friendships include LEBRON JAMES, STEPHEN CURRY and "many others." More than his standing among players, though, he is a "troll watching a troll’s league." Having Drake be the "face of the Raptors, and by extension, the league, is ideal and even unique to the NBA." Drake’s mission to "irritate everyone around him, especially players, is a testament to how accessible basketball wants to appear -- even if you need a couple thousand dollars to buy the tickets that Drake has" (NYTIMES.com, 5/21).
FAKE LOVE: The Raptors and Bucks are even at two games apiece in the Eastern Conference Finals, and in Milwaukee, JR Radcliffe wrote the Bucks' fanbase "totally hates Drake, who doesn't own the Raptors but is somehow allowed to freely roam the court" at Scotiabank Arena. It was "irritating when he waved goodbye" to GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO and the Bucks after the Raptors "barely survived" in a Game 3 overtime win on Sunday. But during the Raptors' Game 4 win last night, Drake "reached a new level of clowndom." It appeared that he was "giving Raptors coach NICK NURSE a massage during the game" (JSONLINE.com, 5/21).
HOTLINE BLING: In Toronto, Leanne Delap notes ahead of last night's game, Drake "received a bespoke, diamond-encrusted sports jacket worth an estimated $769,000." Each year for the past four years, Raptors owner MLSE has gifted Drake with a "custom jacket, lined with a Raptors jersey." The latest piece included 235 diamonds "hand-embroidered into the shape of the OVO owl on the right side ... balanced out by a 1.2 carat diamond pin on the left peaked lapel" (TORONTO STAR, 5/22).
