Raptors team with Drake again
The Toronto Raptors’ relationship with one-time ambassador Drake has become tough to define.
The ambassador label got dropped, but Drake still seemed to have the run of the place and those courtside seats that allowed him to hobnob with all his NBA buddies.
Now the partnership is set to grow again, this time with the city and the sport benefiting.
Team president Masai Ujiri announced Wednesday a program that will see the team host six Welcome Toronto and OVO-themed home games this season, where the Raptors will wear their new OVO-edition uniforms and debut a new black and gold jersey beginning Jan. 26 against the Utah Jazz and Jan. 28 against the L.A. Lakers.
OVO is Drake’s all-encompassing lifestyle brand. The Welcome Toronto program will also see Drake and the Raptors donate $1 million to refurbish local community basketball courts and another $2 million to Canada Basketball. For each of the next three years, four local community courts will be selected for a capital investment, with the first four court locations announced later this month.
“We have something very special happening in Toronto and Drake is a big part of that,” Ujiri said in a release. “We’re looking forward to this opportunity to continue working together to inspire and support young people, to showcase this great city around the world and to grow the game of basketball.”