Master P Dismissed By Raptors
Master P took the news hard.
The multimillionaire rap artist and producer, whose real name is Percy Miller, was waived by the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday along with former Duke forward Antonio Lang.
"He was crushed," Raptors forward Vince Carter said of Master P. "He was rejected and it was hard. Especially with him being an entertainer, you don't really see rejection as much."
The 29-year-old Miller, who has parlayed his music success into a successful recording label, No Limit Records, and a financial interest in a sports agent business, No Limit Sports, was a training camp invitee by the Raptors.
Toronto coach Butch Carter wanted to stash him on the injured reserve list, but he said the decision was made in consultation with Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald and team president Richard Peddie.
"Miller didn't like it," Carter said. "He's no different than any other multimillionaire."
Despite looking overmatched when inserted into exhibition games, usually in the closing minutes, he was a hit with fans. During games in Edmonton, Dallas and Toronto, fans chanted loudly for him.
Though friends with his teammates, some of them disapproved of his presence.
After the Raptors blew an 11-point lead against Dallas with Miller on the floor, veteran Charles Oakley made his feelings known.
"I guess when you've been around long enough, you see everything, but I'm not for that kind of stuff," Oakley said.
Miller, who played briefly in the CBA last year after being cut by the Charlotte Hornets in training camp, averaged 2.2. points and 4.0 minutes is six exhibition games with Toronto.
"He took it very seriously," Raptors center Kevin Willis said. "He wanted to come out and try to prove himself, but it just didn't happen."
Miller's sports company represents New Orleans Saints rookie running back Ricky Williams as well as NBA players Ron Mercer and Derek Anderson. He played against Anderson when the Los Angeles Clippers visited Toronto earlier this month.
Lang, who previously played with Phoenix, Cleveland and Miami, averaged 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.
The cuts leave the Raptors with a roster of 14.
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