NBA asks Raptors to tell rapper Drake to tone it down

Canadian rapper Drake pats Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey on the back as Drake leaves arena with 2 minutes left in Game 2 of the team’s NBA basketball playoffs second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO — The NBA has asked the Toronto Raptors to tell rapper Drake to avoid a repeat of his verbal exchanges with Cleveland’s Kendrick Perkins during Game 1 of Toronto’s second-round series against the Cavaliers.

Drake, who has been Toronto’s global ambassador since 2013, occasionally sits in a courtside seat adjacent to Toronto’s bench and trades barbs with visiting players.

Perkins took exception to Drake’s comments as the teams were leaving the court at the end of the first half Tuesday. The pair traded angry words again following Cleveland’s 113-112 overtime win.

According to the NBA’s Fan Code of Conduct, the league is “committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable sports & entertainment experience.”

The Raptors hosted Game 2 on Thursday. A day earlier, Toronto coach Dwane Casey said he had no issue with Drake’s antics, saying he wished all Raptors fans had the same passion as the three-time Grammy winner.