Raptors Fined $25K After Drake Tells Kevin Durant To Play For Toronto

These brand ambassador roles can be tricky for music artist who still happen to be fans as well. A couple of weeks ago, Drake held his OVO Fest in Toronto. The weekend features concerts and celebrity basketball games during the city’s Caribana celebration.

While on stage, during one of the concerts, Drake made his best pitch to Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star and NBA MVP, Kevin Durant to join the Raptors. But as a global ambassador for the team, that little shout out is considered tampering under the NBA bylaws.

“Before we leave, I just want to show one of my brothers something,” Drake announced to the crowd. “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.”

Per ESPN, the Raptors have been fined $25,000.

Hearing Raptors fined $25,000 for comments Drake made at a concert about Kevin Durant that were seen as violation of anti-tampering rules

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) August 11, 2014

Durant withdrew from Team USA last Friday, expressing physical and mental fatigue.