A groundbreaking NBA player is DeMar DeRozan. But, he flies under the radar, due to him not being as high-profile as the others. DeRozan is a “predictable” star and he’s yet to win a championship, but he is the highest profile player speaking on mental health.
DeMar DeRozan is a native of Compton and turned to basketball at a young age. He came up playing in Master P’s AAU teams, which would have an impact on his future career. In college, at USC, DeRozan played alongside Romeo Miller.
In the NBA, DeMar DeRozan became the franchise player the Toronto Raptors never had. Previously, Vince Carter and Chris Bosh left the team, but DeRozan stayed. His thanks was being traded the year after leading the Raptors to their best season of all-time. The trade paid immediate dividends, as Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors to their first championship, in 2019, over the Golden State Warriors.
DeMar DeRozan sat down with Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson on Knuckleheads, on The Players’ Tribune. In this interview, DeRozan spoke on his life growing up in Compton, leading to playing on Master P’s AAU team, and his time at USC. This led to his discussion about playing for the Toronto Raptors, becoming the franchise player after Vince Carter and Chris Bosh. DeRozan also discussed his bond with Kyle Lowry.
