Drafted ninth overall in 2009, DeMar DeRozan envisioned a lifelong tenure with the Toronto Raptors. But in a 2018 trade that shocked him and the league, he was sent to the San Antonio Spurs. In his new YouTube series called “Dinners with DeMar”, the 6-time All-Star opens up about the emotional impact of the trade, mental health struggles, and his recent Chicago Bulls success with Warriors’ Draymond Green in Episode 1.

DeRozan led the Raptors to 5 consecutive playoff appearances along with reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016. However, he was unexpectedly traded for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, a move seen as a gamble for an NBA championship or for a rebuild by the Toronto Raptors.

From Raptors Star to Spurs Shock

DeRozan, the Raptors’ scoring leader for five seasons before the trade, expressed his disappointment on Instagram, “Be told one thing & the outcome another. Can’t trust em. Ain’t no loyalty in this game. Sell you out quick for a little bit of nothing… Soon you’ll understand … Don’t disturb” he said. DeRozan remains the franchise’s all-time leader in points (13,296), field goals made (4,716), free throws made (3,539), and games played (675).

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The 1st episode of “Dinners with DeMar“, offers a glimpse into DeRozan’s emotional journey following the trade. He describes feeling, “knocked me to my f**king knees of a place I thought I would be forever. The feeling that I felt was I can’t even explain it to this day…it put me in an element of three years of trying to search and find myself from basketball perspective feeling like you know the doubt creep in questioning yourself how much longer this gon be getting caught up in the narrative of the “sports” people experts wanting to put out. You kinda fall victim to the bu**sh*t and during that whole time you know my dad was sick.…and a week later he passed”

“I Got Jumped by 6 Dudes”: Harsh Childhood Struggles of DeMar DeRozan Come to Light in Conversation With Draymond Green

While maintaining a professional front, DeMar admitted the internal struggle that took a toll. He further opened up to Green and said, “This was the sh*t I was consistently carrying through this whole time and I never made a peep out of it. I never wanted to be a distraction to my teammates and to my work…that sh*t took a toll…unconsciously that sh*t will weigh on you.”

DeRozan’s Triumph Through Challenges

After three seasons in San Antonio, DeRozan landed with the Chicago Bulls, where his career has taken off. His Bulls debut in October 2021, saw a strong performance against the Pistons where he bagged 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists and he’s currently averaging 22.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season.

History was made when DeRozan became the first player to hit consecutive game-winning buzzer-beaters in January 2022. He finished the season as the league’s leading fourth-quarter scorer and joined the prestigious 20,000-point club later that year against a game with his former team San Antonio Spurs. The 2022-23 season witnessed another milestone for DeRozan as he and Zach LaVine shattered the Bulls’ scoring record for a duo, surpassing Michael Jordan and Horace Grant.

Currently, the Bulls are 9th in the Eastern Conference, while the Raptors are 12th. While DeRozan’s journey with the Bulls seems destined for the playoffs, the same can’t be said for the Raptors this year. Instead of being “salty”, DeMar chose self-improvement and perseverance, carving a name for himself. Now, with “Dinners with DeMar,” we gain a glimpse into the mind of a player shrouded by excellence and resilience.

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