Since becoming the Global Ambassador for the Toronto Raptors in the 2013-2014 season Drake has made a name for himself as the Spike Lee 2.0 with his antics and trolling of NBA players courtside. This has made for some of the best memorable moments and gives us another reason to Love Drake as it has made for great entertainment. Here are our top moments from Drake courtside antics with NBA Players ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals of The Warriors Vs Raptors this Thursday.
2016 NBA All-Star Game: Drake photo-bombs legendary photo
Kobe Bryant’s final All-Star Game and many fans were in attendance for it. One of the most Iconic moments of the game was during the fourth quarter when Lebron slaps the floor while defending his predecessor, and longtime rival for the last time. The sequence was caught in an iconic photo but not without Drake photo-bombing first cheering the two superstars on. Let’s just say it still made for a great photo with Drake’s throwback jacket of Kobe and we’ll this photo framed in someone’s mansion.
March 16, 2016 (Bulls at Raptors): Drake helps cause five-second violation
Drake double-teams Bulls' inbounds pass to force 5-second violation pic.twitter.com/X5X8pjUBzM
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) March 15, 2016
Raptors down three with 25.8 seconds remaining in a regular season game against the Bulls that were looking to inbound the ball. Drake roamed the sidelines and stopped to the jaw in the ear of Chicago’s Justin Holiday, who was looking to inbound the ball. Drake’s antics seem to work this time as Holiday took too long, and were charged with a five-second violation. This gave the Raptors new life as Drake pranced back to his seat but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, as Toronto would still lose the game.
November 16, 2016 (Warriors at Raptors): Drake trash talks Kevin Durant
Another DeMar J. @drake staredown. Raps up 7. #DrakeNight #RTZ https://t.co/WLcU1cj7Sg
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 17, 2016
KD first year stint with the Warriors found himself arriving in Toronto to play the Raptors on Drake night. Durant fell victim to Drake’s trash talk all night long and the most memorable moment came after Demar Derozan hit a big three-pointer to give the Raptors a comfortable lead. Drake stared down KD after the shot, who was leaning on the scorer’s table waiting to check back into the game, seemingly unfazed.
February 11, 2015 (Wizards at Raptors): Paul Pierce shoves Drake
During a regular season match-up against the Wizards, Drake thought it would be hilarious to bother the Truth from the sideline during an inbounds pass. Drake got behind Pierce and laughed hysterically as the former Boston Celtics star was trying to make inbounds pass with 12 seconds to go, so Pierce gave him a little shove.
Game 2, 2018 Eastern First Round (Wizards at Raptors): Drake trolls John Wall and Kelly Oubre
DRAKE CHIRPING JOHN WALL
"YOU'RE GETTING BODIED BY 20 TONIGHT" pic.twitter.com/96NjDZ5mlI
— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) April 18, 2018
The Raptors were up 1-0 in their first-round series versus the Wizards, and Drake shared a video on Instagram in which he tells John Wall, “John, you’re getting bodied by 20 tonight.” Toronto would go on to take the series lead going up 2-0 after winning the contest 130-119. The highlight of the night came later on when Drake crossed paths with third-year Wizards forward Kelly Oubre as the cameras caught the rapper calling him “a bum.” after being scored on by C.J. Miles.
Drake letting Kelly Oubre hear it 😳 pic.twitter.com/JtEmTHWnfM
— ESPN (@espn) April 18, 2018
Game 1, 2018 Eastern Semifinals (Cavaliers at Raptors): Drake is testing the wrong Kendrick
DRAKE VS KENDRICK PERKINS?! OK pic.twitter.com/ecl3VKRBmp
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 2, 2018
Drake’s courtside interaction’s with NBA players are usually playful trash talk and rarely strays away from that until Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Things got heated between Drizzy and Cleveland reserve Kendrick Perkins, as something we don’t know till this day sparked a shouting match as players from both teams were heading to their respective locker rooms for halftime. The two would go back at it post-game with the rapper allegedly following Perk into the tunnel and calling him names. Let’s just say this is one fight Drake doesn’t want to start but it still made for a good laugh.
November 29, 2018 (Warriors at Raptors): Drake & Kevin Durant’s pleasant exchange
KD gave Drake a purple nurple 🤣 pic.twitter.com/V07HEnpOrT
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 30, 2018
Drake and KD seem to have this playful relationship whenever the Raptors have a match-up against the Warriors and it’s always memorable. While Durant headed off of the floor to the locker room for halftime he and Drake had the type of playful interaction that’s reserved only for close friends, as KD responded to the 6 God’s friendly trash talk by giving him a purple nurple. We may be in tune for more of this in The Finals hopefully.
Game 5, 2019 Eastern Semifinals (Sixers at Raptors): Drake Mocks Joel Embiid’s airplane celebration
Drake and Raptors fans troll Embiid as he checked out in the 4th 😅 pic.twitter.com/E7kIEV4Wi4
— ESPN (@espn) May 8, 2019
The Kings of Trolling, Drake and Joel Embiid are a perfect match-up everyone wants to see. During a Game 5 blowout win over Philly Drake impersonates the superstars signature airplane celebration.
Game 4, 2019 Eastern Finals (Bucks at Raptors): Drake clowns Giannis while at the Free throw line.
Drake just wants more life for his Raptors but his sideline antics got the Bucks in their feelings pic.twitter.com/6E7eDcDHFE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 25, 2019
Drake got the last laugh after the Raptors’ series-tying Game 4 win over the Bucks. Drizzy spent most of the night dancing on the sidelines and clowning Giannis, celebrating his free throw misses with sarcastic laughter and mock air guitars. The most enjoyable moment came when the rapper got up close and personal with Nick Nurse, playfully rubbing the coach’s shoulders in a showcase of appreciation.