‘Words could never express what you’ve meant to me’
Still bitter about trade but thanks supporters while team plans tribute
DeMar DeRozan, still unhappy about the way Wednesday’s trade to San Antonio went down, separated his feelings about the business of basketball from his love of Toronto in a heartfelt Instagram post thanking Raptor fans for their support.
Former Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan — and that’s going to take some time to get used to — has gone out killing ’em with kindness.
In his first public utterance to fans, many of whom remain decimated by his trade to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, DeRozan continued to profess his love for and admiration of the support he received during a glittering nine-year career in Toronto.
“Words could never express what you’ve meant to me. I was just a 19 year old kid from Compton when we first met but you took me in and embraced me as one of your own,” the California native posted on his Instagram account Saturday afternoon. “I am so grateful for the Love and Passion that you’ve give me over the past 9 years. All I ever wanted was to duplicate it 10x over just to show my appreciation.”
Make no mistake, the trade of DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a draft pick to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green hit Toronto’s worldwide fan base at a visceral level.
It is more than a defensible transaction from a basketball perspective — a healthy Leonard is one of the top five players in the league — but DeRozan meant more to the fans that wins or points per game or any other statistical measurement.
Here is a kid from inner-city Los Angeles who completely embraced playing in Toronto and Canada. He could have sought other NBA employment as a free agent twice, the second time not even bothering to meet with potential suitors before re-signing with Toronto.
Fans here saw him mature into a proud family man and also become the best player in franchise history statistically, and its most accomplished. He was a 2016 Olympic gold medallist and 2014 world champion. Twice he made one of three all-NBA post-season teams (most recently a second-team selection in 2017-18) and he participated in the mid-season all-star game four times.
It’s why Raptors president Masai Ujiri, who apologized Friday for the way DeRozan’s departure was handled, assured fans there would be a fitting tribute to the 28-year-old.
“DeMar is the greatest player that’s played for now for Toronto,” Ujiri said. “I guarantee you he will be respected for that and he will be acknowledged for that in the biggest way that we can possibly do it as long as I’m here.”
According to sources close to DeRozan, he remains angry with Ujiri about how the trade ultimately played out — he was operating with the understanding he would not be dealt and is still upset — but DeRozan is easily capable of distinguishing between his former bosses and fans who lionized him anywhere he went in the country.
“Thank you Toronto, thank you Canada,” his post said.