DeMar DeRozan Reveals Emotional Turmoil Over Raptors 2019 Championship Win
Former Toronto Raptors star DeMar DeRozan recently opened up about his emotional turmoil surrounding the team’s 2019 NBA championship win. DeRozan admitted that he couldn’t bring himself to watch the finals, as the pain of being traded less than a year earlier was still raw.
“It f***ed me up,” DeRozan candidly shared on The 25 10 show. “We couldn’t beat one person, we couldn’t beat Bron. So the year when I got traded, Bron left. He went to the Lakers. So I was more so mad like give it one more shot.”
After three consecutive playoff exits at the hands of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Raptors made a bold move by trading DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard. DeRozan returned to Toronto as a member of the Spurs in 2019 and was deeply moved by the warm reception he received from the fans.
The championship win was bittersweet for DeRozan, as he had hoped to win a title with the Raptors. However, he has since found peace and closure, moving on from the trade and his feelings during that championship run. Now a member of the Chicago Bulls, DeRozan has embraced his new team and is focused on the future.