NBA fines Raptors after rapper Drake woos Kevin Durant at concert

Drake has been known to attach himself to a winner, wearing the hats of various high-profile teams and showing up in locker rooms to take part in championship celebrations.

The NBA, apparently believing the rapper took his sporting allegiances a bit too far during a recent concert in Toronto, fined the Toronto Raptors $25,000 because Drake made a recruiting pitch to Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant during the concert. Drake’s shout-out to Durant while the NBA’s most valuable player was in attendance violated the league’s anti-tampering rules, according to ESPN.com, because Drake serves in an official capacity as the Raptors’ global ambassador (whatever that is). A league spokesman confirmed the fine to The Times.

“I just want to show one of my brothers something,” Drake told the crowd at his concert. “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.”

The crowd then reportedly chanted “KD! KD!” Durant remains under contract with the Thunder for two more seasons, but the usual big-market suspects such as the Lakers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets as well as the Washington Wizards, who can use the lure of him returning to his hometown, are believed to be lining up free-agent pitches for the summer of 2016.

Here’s guessing a Drake song won’t be used as part of any video montages the prospective suitors show Durant.