NBA to Toronto Raptors: Tell Drake to Sit Down

It will be interesting to see how he acts during Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Drake reacts the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. (Gregory Shamus/Getty)
Drake reacts the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. (Gregory Shamus/Getty)
Getty Images

The latest in a long line of celebrity NBA fans who have courted controversy while cheering on their teams from court-side seats, Drake has, for better or worse, been a part of the Toronto Raptors’ run to the NBA Finals this postseason.

That run will reach its final stage when the Raptors host the Golden State Warriors tonight in Toronto and Drake will be there cheering on the home team.

But, he likely won’t be as boisterous as he has been in previous series as the NBA reportedly talked to the Raptors about the behavior of Drake along the sideline during the Eastern Conference finals, a league spokesman told ESPN.

The league previously warned the rapper, who has served as a global ambassador for the Raptors since 2013, about his activity and presence on the sidelines after an incident during the playoffs last season during a series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Toronto coach Nick Nurse, who got a shoulder rub from Drake during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, talked about Drake’s presence on the sidelines in Toronto.

“He’s really nice to me every time I see him. He’s a really nice guy,” Nurse said on ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption. “The whole backrub thing, I didn’t know it was happening until the next day, somebody sent me a picture. I didn’t even feel his hands on me. You probably heard my response. I said either I was really focused or he has really soft hands.”

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