Congratulations to the Toronto Raptors for defeating the Golden State Warriors 4 to 2 in the NBA Finals. It’s the first NBA title in the team’s history, and first for a team based in Canada. An American team had won it every year since inauguration in 1947.
Canadian basketball has come full circle with the Raptors win. As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pointed out in a speech after the game, the sport was invented by Canadian Dr. James Naismith way back in 1891, and the very first NBA game was actually played between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers on Nov. 1, 1946 inside Maple Leaf Gardens. The Huskies were Toronto’s first NBA team and compiled a 22–38 win–loss record in its only season before disbanding in 1947. The Raptors introduced a throwback jersey in the 2009 season that commemorated the city’s original team.
“On December 21, 1891, Naismith nailed a peach basket to the lower rail of the balcony, ten feet off the floor, at either end of the gym. He posted a typed list of 13 rules on the bulletin board and selected two men to be the captains. After they chose sides, Naismith tossed a soccer ball up between the two centers.”
In a close game, the Raptors managed to secure the win in the final minutes, with small forward Kawhi Leonard being named Finals MVP. He become the first player to win the award in two different conferences, having also been named Finals MVP with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.
Celebrations kicked off across Canada in the various satellite Jurassic Parks that popped up, as well as in Rockford, Illinois, the hometown of fan favourite Fred VanVleet.
.@drake loves his country and his Toronto Raptors pic.twitter.com/KGSBJfGv5N— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 14, 2019
Raptors Global Ambassador Drake watched the game from a stage in the original Jurassic Park (located in downtown Toronto) and has been celebrating HARD since the win. He indicated that he’d be releasing new music if the won the series, and followed that up after the win last night to confirm. Expect two new songs on Friday at some point including the Rick Ross-assisted “Money In The Grave” and the Deats, E.Y and OZ-produced “Omertà.” Both are part of what Drizzy is calling the The Best In The World Pack. The songs will be released at midnight.
“They said I was a curse now they cursing each other out.” – Drake
Despite a lot of tension between Drake and the Warriors camp during the series, it appears they’re still on good terms. GSW star player Steph Curry was seen talking on the phone with Drake as he exited the arena–media in tow–congratulating the Toronto star on the team’s victory. “Y’all deserve it man. Congrats.” Sportscenter posted a clip of the exchange on Instagram.
Drake also took to Instagram Live to forgive to Klay Thompson for comments he made during the series.
“Eh Klay, I remember that thing you said about me that one time at that one game… Imma let it slide though.”
In the same video he confirms the release of the aforementioned songs, and revealed that he’d be designing the championship rings the Raptors will receive for winning the title.
Visit the official sites TorontoRaptors.com and DrakeOfficial.com.
