Warriors forward Draymond Green and rapper and Toronto Raptors super-fan Drake made headlines, this past Friday, after the two were seen exchanging words seemingly heated words following Thursday night's Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals. However, the two managed to cool the media's jets on an apparent feud by meeting up at a popular Toronto restaurant Friday night.
Draymond downplayed what some in the media described as a "scuffle" between himself and Drake during his postgame interview, Thursday night, saying, "We talked. We barked a little bit. But I wouldn't necessarily consider that a scuffle. Not really what I, personally, would consider a scuffle." He later added that the two were just "talking s***."
On Saturday, Green elaborated a bit on just what was happening with Drake as he was leaving the court, speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area:
"'We was talking s--t,' Green told NBC Sports Bay Area on Saturday. 'And we live in a day and age where people -- we live in a soft-ass world to where everything is a problem, and everything is a major issue. That’s the world we live in today, and so when someone sees people talking s--t to each other, it’s like, "Oh my God, they hate each other," but it's the typical overreaction into everything that's overreacted to in today's day in age.'"
Drake and Green apparently met up in the Cactus Club Cafe in downtown Toronto, up in a private room near the restaurant's rooftop deck. Also present was fellow-Warrior Alfonzo McKinnie, along with an "extended party." The meeting reportedly died down around 8:00 PM, with Drake and Dray going their separate ways.
The two young stars have apparently been friends for quite some time, contrary to what their postgame run-in may have portrayed. In fact, NBC Sports Bay Area points out:
"Green and Drake have maintained a friendship for the past five years. In 2016, during the Warriors' record-breaking 73-win season, Drake name-dropped Green in his hit single, 'Summer Sixteen.' Two years ago, following a 127-121 Warriors win over the Raptors, Green was treated to an advance listen to 'Free Smoke' from Drake's then-upcoming mixtape 'More Life.' Last season, as the Warriors geared up for a playoff run, Green wore a promotional jacket for Drake's fifth studio album, 'Scorpion.'
Hours before their meal together Friday, Green sported a red Jordan/October's Very Own collab hoodie as an homage to the Toronto-born rapper."
Drake is said to have a good relationship with Warriors guard Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha, as well. In this current age of crossover between professional sports figures, popular recording artists, and other famous personalities it's no wonder that high-profile NBA players – like Steph and Draymond – would be drawn to entertainment industry stars, like Drake, and vice-versa. What makes it all the more interesting is that the two are naturally pitted against one another by way of the Warriors playing the Raptors in this year's NBA Finals.
The on-court product is sure to continue to be a treat to die-hard basketball fans, while the off-the-court drama will be especially appealing to more casual audience members.
Oh, and after the Warriors won Sunday night's game, Green and Klay Thompson were caught on camera heckling Drake saying, "See you in the Bay."
Photo courtesy of Cactus Club Cafe
