The Toronto Raptors played host to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, which meant that the best Canadian basketball player in the world got to take the floor in Toronto. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City’s star guard who is right in the thick of the league’s MVP race, is a Toronto native and put on a show in front of his hometown, which led to one very notable Raptors fan showing him some love while the teams went to the locker room at halftime.
With the Thunder up by the emphatic score of 67-42, the two teams started to head into the back for the halftime break when Gilgeous-Alexander noticed Drake sitting in his usual courtside seat. Gilgeous-Alexander made it a point to head over there and showed Drake a bit of love before he went to the back.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that Drake is probably the most famous fan of an NBA team that there is, other than maybe Jack Nicholson with the Los Angeles Lakers. Having said that, Drake is also a global ambassador for the Raptors, and he might be the only person officially affiliated with an NBA team who can get away with dapping up an opposing player while their team is getting carved up on their home floor like this.
Houston Rocket’s Fred VanVleet commented on new Texan Drake‘s caution regarding the Toronto Raptors hanging Demar DeRozan‘s jersey in their rafters when he retires on Draymond Green’s podcast. Drake’s actions and comments toward DeRozan at Sacramento Kings against the Toronto Raptors last week went viral, with the Raptor’s ambassador claiming he would pull down Demar’s jersey should the team retire it with the organization. “If you put up a banner and, I’ll personally pull it down,” said Drizzy when asked about DeRozan by commentators.
A trending topic, Draymond asked VanVleet, a former Raptors player before signing a massive deal with the Rockets, if DeMar DeRozan, now playing for the Kings, can have his jersey retired with the Raptors. When asked about DeRozan’s retirement, Fred VanVleet said: “Yeah, I think it should. I think it should. I think that when you look at what he did, you know, especially when you want to give the history of the franchise and what Vince and all of those guys meant at the beginning and what that meant for Canadian basketball.”
Drake and Demar’s issues stem from the Compton-bred basketball star’s appearance in the music video for the Drizzy diss track “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar. In previous interviews, Demar shared that he appeared in the video because of his West Coast roots but did not have an issue with Drake. Many believe that Drake lost the iconic clash against Kendrick Lamar with “Not Like Us,” which spawned an Amazon-presented concert that united Los Angeles hip-hop. Demar responded to Drake’s comment about retirement after the game by saying, “He going to have a long way to climb to take it down.”
VanVleet played for the Raptors from 2016 to 2023. Traded to the Rockets in 2023, Drizzy made headlines trolling Fred during a regular-season game against the Raptors. Drake refers to Fred as his “look-alike.” Hip-hop shared mixed reviews of Drake’s antics towards the basketball stars. Do you think Demar will retire in Toronto? Will the 6 God seriously rip down the jersey if Toronto hangs it in their rafters? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
The Toronto Raptors traveled to Sacramento to take on the Kings on Wednesday night in a game that has suddenly given us a little spiciness off the court. Sacramento went to Toronto on the night of Vince Carter’s jersey retirement ceremony last week, which was the first time that DeMar DeRozan played in front of Drake since he appeared in the music video for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
While DeRozan, in the immediate aftermath, said he has tons of love for Drake despite his cameo in the video, Drake expressed that he doesn’t want to see DeRozan get his number retired in Toronto when his career comes to an end, and DeRozan seemed to have a lot of fun responding. And on Wednesday with Drake’s beloved Raptors in town, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive decided to show some support to his star forward by wearing a shirt with the words “THEY NOT LIKE US” on it.
The Kings picked up a 122-107 win on Wednesday to move and 5-3 on the season. All five starters scored in double-figures for Sacramento, with DeRozan leading the way with 27 points on 11-for-21 shooting. It is unclear if he was motivated by the fact that the team’s owner showed up and wore a shirt that trolled Drake, but I’m sure at least part of him appreciated it.
The Toronto Raptors retired Vince Carter’s jersey last week, the highest honor the team can give to one of the most iconic players in franchise history. The game happened against the Sacramento Kings, which are the current team of someone else who will probably get his jersey retired by the Raptors some day, DeMar DeRozan.
While the night was all about Carter, there was some tension between DeRozan and noted Raptors fan Drake, which presumably all revolves around DeRozan appearing in the music video for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” The whole ordeal rubbed former Toronto player Lou Williams the wrong way, which he expressed on FanDuel’s “Run It Back.”
“If I’m gonna speak candidly, I thought that was selfish of Drake,” Williams said. “Drake, as well as the country of Canada, the city of Toronto, they know what DeMar DeRozan has contributed to the culture up there, and what he’s contributed to the Toronto Raptors, and to that community. It goes way bigger than his personal relationship with Drake, it goes way bigger than his personal relationship with Kendrick Lamar. So for Drake to say, ‘If you put up a banner and I’ll personally pull it down,’ it’s like, is it just about you or is it about the Toronto Raptors?”
Drake expressed during the game that if the Raptors put up a DeRozan banner, “I’ll go up there and pull it down myself.” DeRozan was asked to respond to this after the game and told the press that “He gonna have a long way to climb to take it down. So, tell him good luck.” The following day, DeRozan posted a clip from Friday to his Instagram Story, and it’s not hard to read between the lines that he was talking about Drake.
Yesterday (November 2), Drake attended the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings game at Scotiabank Arena. Instead of focusing on the friendly matchup, Drake and his longtime friend Nessel “Chubbs” Beezer decided to laser in on former Raptors star DeMar DeRozan (now the the Kings). Throughout the game, Drake could be heard hurling remarks at DeRozan (supposedly including “p*ssy” and “goof“), and it doesn’t seem to be sports related tension.
At one point, Drake and Chubbs (both courtside) can be seen standing up and staring down DeRozan (viewable here). Well, just as viewers at home caught the suspenseful moment, so did DeRozan. Over on Instagram, DeMar DeRozan decided to troll Drake back by posting a video clip from Friday (viewable here).
In the scene, starring Ice Cube (playing Craig) and Chris Tucker (playing Smokey), Tucker’s character attempts to regain tough points after being punked by the neighborhood bully, Deebo (played by the late Tommy Lister). “I got mind control over Deebo,” says Tucker. “He be like shut the f*ck up. I be quiet. But when he leaves I be talking again.”
This comes after Drake vowed to “pull down” DeRozan’s number should the Raptors ever decide to retire it after Vincent Carter’s number retirement celebration.
DeRozan claimed that he and Drake were “still family” even after he appeared in the “Not Like Us” music video. However, it appears Drake doesn’t feel that same.
Top5 is a Toronto artist who has some affiliations with none other than Drake. In fact, after beating a recent murder charge in the city, Top5 thanked Drake directly for helping with his legal fees. Subsequently, the artist has been riding hard for Drizzy, especially as it pertains to the artist’s beef with Kendrick Lamar. He has made some vague threats towards Kendrick and claims that he is currently in the midst of doing some “research” on the artist.
Last night, Top5 found himself in social media headlines, yet again, although this time, it was because of his antics at a recent NBA game. He found himself courtside, sitting on the baseline for a match between the Toronto Raptors and the Denver Nuggets. At one point in the game, Russell Westbrook was very close to Top5, and the rapper took advantage with some “You suck” chants. Westbrook even yelled back at the artist, who then turned the camera on himself.
If you remember, Westbrook was actually at Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out” show and at one point, he was even on stage with all of the other artists. Needless to say, it is pretty obvious why Top5 would target Russ in this way. Beyond just rap beef politics, Westbrook has been having a downturn in his career, which has led to a whole lot of clowning on social media, and real life. Either way, Russ got the last laugh as the Nuggets won the game by a score of 127-125.
Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that Russell Westbrook is officially washed? Can the Denver Nuggets win the championship this year now that Russ is on the team? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Drake has long been connected with the sports world, most notably via his love (and since 2013, official role as an ambassador) for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. Now, he’s honoring some of his home city’s most beloved athletes as his brand October’s Very Own (OVO) announces the “Hometown Heroes Collection.”
OVO
The new merch drop honors “the legendary athletes who have shaped the city’s sports and culture,” per a press release. The ten-piece collection includes hoodies, t-shirts, and basketball and hockey jerseys featuring OVO branding, in partnership with the Raptors and the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
OVO is launching the collection with a campaign highlighting three Toronto favorites: former Toronto Maples Leafs captain Mats Sundin and former Raptors Muggsy Bogues and Morris Peterson.
OVO
The Hometown Heroes collection will be able to shop on the OVO website and at OVO flagship stores in the US, Canada, and UK, starting today, September 27, at 10 a.m. ET. Prices range from $68 to $198 USD.
Meanwhile, it was recently reported that on multiple occasions, Drake has turned down an invitation to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Jamil “Mal” Clay of the New Rory & Mal podcast claimed, “Drake has been offered the Super Bowl show for some years now and has turned it down. Probably four years, he’s been offered to perform at the Super Bowl, said no for whatever reason.”
Vince Carter will make history as the first Toronto Raptors player to have his jersey retired, according to TSN. The Raptors plan to honor Carter’s No. 15 when they face the Sacramento Kings on November 2, marking the franchise’s first-ever jersey retirement during their 30th anniversary season in 2024-25.
Carter, who will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in October, will also have his jersey retired by the Brooklyn Nets on January 25. His storied 22-year NBA career, which saw him play for eight teams, remains legendary for its longevity. He holds the league record for most seasons played—a mark LeBron James will tie this fall.
Though Carter’s prime years included stints with the New Jersey Nets and a deep playoff run with the Orlando Magic, he is most associated with Toronto, where his iconic career began. The Raptors drafted Carter out of the University of North Carolina in 1998, and his high-flying dunks earned him the nickname “Half-Man/Half-Amazing.” He quickly became one of the NBA’s most electrifying stars, winning Rookie of the Year and leading the Raptors to their first-ever postseason appearance in his sophomore season. Carter’s contributions also guided Toronto to its first playoff series victory during his third year.
This momentous occasion for the Raptors celebrates Carter’s undeniable impact on the franchise and his lasting influence on Canadian basketball.
Masai Ujiri is a distinguished figure in basketball management. He has earned acclaim for his strategic acumen and leadership. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated to be $15 million, according to IAmGoldPanda. Ujiri’s journey from a young player in Nigeria to a top executive in the NBA underscores his dedication, vision, and impact on the sport.
Born on July 7, 1970, in Bournemouth, England, and raised in Zaria, Nigeria, Masai Ujiri developed a deep passion for basketball early in life. His commitment to the sport led him to the United States, where he played college basketball before transitioning into a career in basketball management. Ujiri’s unique path to the NBA front office highlights his relentless drive and innovative team-building approach.
Rise Through The Ranks
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 24: (L-R) General Manager of the Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri, also SEED Project alumnus Erick Diouf, and Global Co-Executive. Director of the SEED Project Noah Levine appear onstage at the SEED Project 2014 Summer. Event at Up&Down on June 24, 2014, also in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for SEED Project)
Masai Ujiri’s professional career began with a scouting position for the Orlando Magic in 2002. His keen eye for talent and understanding of the game also quickly made him a valuable asset. Ujiri’s ability to identify and nurture young talent set the stage for his rise through the NBA ranks. His work with the Denver Nuggets as a scout and later as the Director of International Scouting further solidified his reputation.
In 2010, Ujiri became the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager for the Toronto Raptors. His tenure with the Raptors also marked a significant turning point for the franchise. Ujiri’s strategic moves transformed the Raptors into a competitive team. His bold decision to trade for Kawhi Leonard in 2018 ultimately led to the Raptors’ first NBA Championship in 2019, cementing his legacy as a master strategist.
Championship Success & Influence
RAPTORS MASAI UJIRI–07/30/07–Toronto Raptors add Denver Nuggets international scout Masai Ujiri , to their basketball operations staff as the clubs director of global scouting. Ujiri poses for a photo outside of the Raptors dressing room at the Air Canada. Centre, also on Monday July 30, 2007. (Tara Walton/Toronto Star) (Photo by Tara Walton/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Masai Ujiri’s success with the Toronto Raptors brought the team its first championship and elevated his status as one of the top executives in the NBA. His leadership and vision were instrumental in building a cohesive team capable of competing at the highest level. Ujiri’s approach to team management emphasizes player development, international scouting, and a deep understanding of the game.
Moreover, the Raptors’ championship win in 2019 culminated years of strategic planning and execution. Ujiri’s ability to assemble a winning team through shrewd trades, smart draft picks, and effective player development has been widely praised. Additionally, his influence extends beyond the Raptors. He is also known for his contributions to the NBA’s global outreach and efforts to grow the game internationally.
Personal Life & Philanthropy
MONTREAL, CANADA – OCTOBER 14: Vice-Chairman and team president of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, walks onto the court prior to the preseason NBA game against the Boston. Celtics at Centre Bell on October 14, 2022, also in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Raptors defeated the Boston Celtics 137-134 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Beyond his professional achievements, Masai Ujiri is deeply committed to philanthropy and community development. He also founded the Giants of Africa organization, which aims to use basketball as a tool to educate and enrich the lives of African youth. Ujiri has helped build basketball infrastructure through this initiative, provided scholarships, and created opportunities for young athletes across the continent.
Ujiri’s personal life reflects his commitment to making a positive impact. He is married to Ramatu Ujiri, and the couple has two children. Despite his demanding career, Ujiri remains dedicated to his family and his philanthropic efforts. His work with Giants of Africa and other charitable endeavors underscores his belief in the power of sports to inspire and uplift communities.
The Toronto Raptors are just the latest sports franchise facing serious allegations pertaining to sports gambling. Just earlier today, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced a similar uncomfortable situation. The Dodgers newest star, Shohei Ohtani is now fighting for his innocence that he wasn’t involved in a sports gambling ring ran by his interpreter. Now, we have sports gambling news in the NBA.
Per a report by NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Raptors center Jontay Porter will sit out of tonight’s game as the NBA investigates a sports gambling situation; Wojnarowski stated on Twitter/X, “Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is out of the lineup and a subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him.” The news is certainly going to send shockwaves throughout the entire NBA community.
Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is out of the lineup and a subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him, sources tell @DavidPurdum, @ESPNWindhorst and me. Story soon. pic.twitter.com/DncBNbDptW
More and more stories seem to be coming out about athletes and gambling. Fans have seen this at the college and professional levels. The NFL has hit the hammer on numerous players for betting even on sports that weren’t football because they were found gambling on the team’s property. Once again, this is another story that will take some time to figure out the truth, but it is another blackeye for professional sports.
Sports gambling, when done right and legally, has grown in every aspect of sporting events. However, just like with anything else, abusers tend to ruin the fun for everyone else. Except this time it won’t be as easy to escape the issue. Every sports league is now in bed with multiple sports gambling companies. Which means bottom lines are now affected. Do you believe that professional sports have a bigger issue with sports gambling then we know? Let us know in our comment section. For the latest news in sports, stay locked in with us at HNHH.
