Drake lands Toronto Raptors fine for Kevin Durant pitch

Toronto Raptors brand ambassador Drake has landed the basketball team's bosses a $25,000 fine after breaking league rules by publicly inviting sports ace Kevin Durant to play in his Canadian hometown.

The hip-hop star was onstage at his annual OVO Fest in the city earlier this month (Aug14), when he spotted Durant in the crowd and suggested the Oklahoma City Thunder forward make the move to fellow National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Raptors once he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2016.

He told the crowd, "Before we leave, I just want to show one of my brothers something. 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."

His comments prompted the audience to launch into a "KD" chant, but the incident has landed Drake in trouble with NBA officials, who have ruled the invite was the equivalent of an open attempt to recruit the player, which violates anti-tampering rules.

Drake was appointed the global ambassador of the Raptors last September (13).