Flashing back to the 2001 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, in which Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors ultimately lost in Game 7 to the Philadelphia 76ers, Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard gave fans redemption Sunday (May 12) with a heartstopping 21-footer buzzer-beater over Joel Embiid that clinched a 92 – 90 Game 7 victory.
Now it appears a photo, taken of Leonard seconds before the shot bounced off of the rim — and into the basket — causing the Scotiabank Arena and the entire city of Toronto to erupt, may inspire a freestyle from the Raptors’ team ambassador, Drake.
“I would do a freestyle just to use this as the artwork,” Drake commented on the photo, shared by current Clipper — former 76er — Lou Williams. Williams himself has received on-wax immortalization from Drizzy, who name-dropped the L.A. shooting guard on his song “6 Man” off of If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
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A freestyle by the team’s biggest fan would be the icing on the cake for an epic series, in which Drake also made waves during Game 5, leading stadium-wide trolling of 76ers center Joel Embiid while wearing a Breaker High hoodie.
“That’s something I never experienced before — Game 7, winning shot,” Leonard told ESPN of the shot heard around the world. “It’s a blessing to get to that point and make that shot and feel that moment, and it’s something I can look back on in my career.”
ESPN has also noted that this is the first Game 7 buzzer-beater in playoff history. The Raps will now face the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, which begin Wednesday (May 15) in Milwaukee.
