The REAL MVP of the Toronto Raptors
You can call him on his cell phone.
Better late than never, but never late is better.
The Toronto Raptors are moving on to the second round of the NBA Playoffs in a rematch last year’s 2016 Eastern Conference Final against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The last few years have been good to Toronto fans, finishing with over 50 wins over the last two seasons respectively and solidifying themselves as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Now, rewind to 2013. The Raptors finish with a sub .500 record for the third time in three years under new head coach, Dwane Casey.
Tables turn, bridges burn, you live and learn; enter Drake.
Drake, a self-proclaimed Raptor fan for life (even though his sport allegiances are routinely questioned), is named Global Ambassador for the Toronto Raptors.
The globally-acclaimed rapper became a staple at the Air Canada Center. Arguing with refs, whispering sweet nothings to Dwayne Casey and even forcing turnovers. The tide started to turn for the city and going to a Raptors game became a hot-ticket event.
Every game turned into a game of Where’s Drake, with fans and the camera always searching, hoping and wondering. Then, the inherent market-value to having Drizzy on staff really started to pay off. Drake Night was created, and has sold out within minutes each year since its inception. The 2016 All-Star Game was gifted to the city, and suddenly, the best and brightest stars were showing love to the 6ix.
But doing is one thing, doing it right is a whole different story.
Since 2013 the Raptors have been on a roll like Cottonelle, in no small part thanks to the Forest Hill native. Ever since Drake was added to the Toronto roster the team has not only improved their profile on the global market, they have won basketball games.
It’s clear that the Raptors have started from the bottom, but now they are here. It’s fun to go to Raptors game — for crying out loud, sometimes it is even hard to find tickets! Giving Drake a fake title so he wouldn’t get kicked out of locker rooms is the best thing this organization has done over the last five years.
Only time will tell if the move will prove beneficial long term, but for now one thing is for sure.
I can’t really see another squad tryna cross them.
