Montrezl Harrell explains his spat with Drake originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
It was the Raptors' first game in Toronto since the NBA shut down in March of last year due to the coronavirus outbreak. After spending last season in Tampa Bay, they were back home and rap superstar Drake wouldn't miss it for the world.
Drake often sits courtside at Scotiabank Arena as a fan and ambassador for the Raptors and he was there on Wednesday as the Wizards opened the season in Toronto. Late in the first half, he and Wizards big man Montrezl Harrell started talking during a stop in play and that led to Harrell getting a technical.
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Naturally, the moment went viral on social media, just as an incident between Drake and then-Wizards forward Paul Pierce did back in 2015. But this was no heated argument, Harrell says.
In fact, Harrell says a Raptors coach (who he didn't name) helped take it up a notch and that's when the referees got involved.
"Let's go and clear that right now. Hey look, I need my money back first, NBA. I definitely need my money back because that definitely shouldn't have been no tech. If so, you've gotta give to me and the coach," Harrell said, referring to the $2,000 fine that is now awaiting him.
"Me and Drake was laughing. There was no problems there. We even talked after the game. It was a cool conversation, but it turned left when the coach started chiming in behind the bench, thinking that barking is something that's gonna shake me. It's all good. I don't need all of Toronto on my bumper now. I don't need Toronto on my bumper now. Don't get on my Instagram now. Me and Drake are cool, y'all."
Harrell held his postgame press conference alongside Bradley Beal as the two were getting set to jet home to Washington for their home opener on Friday. Beal had a quip about the city of Toronto sticking up for their beloved music star.
"They're holding the border up," Beal joked.
No, that won't happen. But surely Toronto can't be pleased with how Wednesday night went for the Raptors, as the Wizards blew them out at home by 15 points and Harrell was the one who had the last laugh.
