Is rap star Drake getting into the heads of the Milwaukee Bucks, especially star player Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The recording artist and Toronto Raptors fan might take credit for having something to do with the NBA's Eastern Conference finals being tied at 2-2 after the Bucks dropped Games Three and Four in Toronto.
On Thursday (NZT), a tweet from a senior executive for Octagon, the agency representing Antetokounmpo, called out Drake for his repeated trolling of the Bucks and specifically their superstar power forward.
"Imagine a gig & an athlete on VIP seats, right next to the band, stands up on the stage just to show off during the entire game, knowing cameras are on him, occasionally even massaging the singer. Security&him both allow it. Never seen anything as disrespectful as this before..."
— Georgios Dimitropoulos (@DimitropulosOCT) May 22, 2019.
The tweet has since been deleted.
Sitting in his usual seat near the Raptors bench, throughout Game four when Toronto beat the Bucks 120-102, Drake certainly made his presence felt.
He laughed when free throws were missed by Antetokounmpo, who hit only 6 of 10 (including an airball) but still scored 25 points.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer has spoken out about the so-called trolling.
"You can't help but occasionally see Drake just going into time outs or in and out of time outs, whether he's encouraging or cheering for Toronto," he said.
"You know, trying to talk to referees.
"To say I don't see it at all would be inaccurate, but to say I give it much or any thought...I just tend to ignore and focus on our team."
How much Drake gets away with might depend on his celebrity status, according to the coach.
"I don't know how much he's on the court," Budenholzer added. "It sounds like you guys are saying it's more than I realise.
"There's certainly no place for fans and, you know, whatever it is exactly that Drake is for the Toronto Raptors. You know, to be on the court, there's boundaries and lines for a reason...the league is usually pretty good at being on top of stuff like that."
Bucks fans don't believe Drake is getting a bum rap, though. And neither does the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, with a headline that read: "Milwaukee totally hates Drake, somehow allowed to roam the court and troll Giannis."
Last year, the NBA reportedly warned Drake about "the use of bad language" after he traded barbs with Cleveland Cavaliers centre Kendrick Perkins in Game One of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Reuters
