Following the 2017 BET Awards in Los Angeles, the NBA held its first-ever eponymous awards show in New York tonight (June 26th). Drake was the master of ceremonies, and he tried to duplicate his ESPYs gig in 2014 with an array of jokes, sketches and more.
Things started well enough, as his opening montage where he cracked on everyone from LeBron James and Draymond Green to the Brooklyn Nets and even himself:
But the multiple, multiple skits and jokes throughout the show (which included a parody of Get Out, Will Ferrell, and Shaq deejaying)? Eh…
If @Drake held a press conference… #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/kZzRcTonX9
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
"Get Out and Celebrate." @Drake as @StephenCurry30? #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/7KvLgVBOnq
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
The handshake game is strong with @Drake & Will Ferrell 👊
If you're seeing this, it's far from too late. The #NBAAwards are on TNT NOW! pic.twitter.com/yCJYGrC4hX
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
.@Drake x Will Ferrell handshakes Part II features an original you won't want to miss…#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/Qh8pYxVQng
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Nicki Minaj was the lone performer, and she was joined by 2 Chainz to do “Realize.” The irony that she performed her Remy Ma diss after Remy dissed her while accepting the BET Award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, thus snapping Nicki’s own seven-year streak, is not lost upon us.