Trash-talk: Toronto Raptors Week #1

Drake: Yeah those rings are nice, but I’m gonna make sure I get a dope one just for me, too.

Let me backtrack here a little bit, the championship rings are absolutely studded. ESPN reported that the team is insisting that they are the “largest-ever” championship rings. From the National Post, the ring has a 1.25-carat diamond (largest single diamond on a championship ring), 640 total diamonds, and 17 rubies.

Global Ambassador, Drake, got a ring gifted by the team like the players, coaches, and executives. And, you know, that’s not a big deal — he’s provided lots of humor and passion over the years and certainly makes home games more worthwhile for anyone in or outside Toronto.

But Champagne Papi wasn’t just having a ring from the Toronto Raptors, he also got a ring made specifically for himself, which is perhaps the greatest and most arrogant pat on the back of all time.

Drake’s ring includes the old Toronto Raptors dinosaur logo in front of the Larry O’Brien trophy. As well, it includes 30 carats of diamonds and is estimated to be worth up to $150,000 USD.

Hear me out on this one because it might be an unpopular opinion: Drake has been absolutely essential in growing the Toronto fan base; there’s no doubt about it. Yet, having a personalized ring made just for him is the exact opposite of what basketball is all about.

Basketball has five players working together on the court; their ability to work together is what creates championship basketball. We’ve seen people try it on their own and fail: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan, and the list goes on. Better yet, when organizations do win, they all reap the same benefits or, in this case, the exact same ring.

Do you know who Jordan Loyd is? Maybe this will spark your memory:

That guy gets a ring just the same as Kawhi’s or Lowry’s and he scored only 29 points in total last season.

Yeah, yeah I know there’s an MVP trophy that designates the most important player in the Finals and he gets his own trophy. But at least that guy was on the court!

Drake deserves to get his due and his ring, but having his own is selfish and doesn’t do justice to the team aspect that it takes to win. Without a doubt, Drake’s customized ring overshadows the team’s collective accomplishment and togetherness.

That, ultimately, is not what basketball is about.