Hoop dreams: Lowry and DeRozan take their basketball bromance to a level they never expected
RIO DE JANEIRO— Never in his wildest dreams did Kyle Lowry expect to be here. DeMar DeRozan dismissed the possibility out of hand.
They were confident in their abilities, of course, but were realistic enough to know the depth of basketball talent in the United States is almost indescribable and the Olympics were something to be watched rather than lived.
Yet they stood in a cavernous news conference room that is part of the Barra Olympic park expanse on Friday, greeting the world’s media as members of the latest incarnation of the United States juggernaut.
“I never envisioned it, honestly,” Lowry said a day before the United States started its inexorable march to another Games gold medal. “I never thought it would be possible but the opportunity shows hard work pays off, USAB called and they gave me the consideration and once I got the consideration, it was a no-brainer, to be honest.
“I think it’s definitely a testament to the work and just where my personal game has been and where my team in the NBA is.”
Lowry’s Toronto Raptors teammate DeRozan also only dreamed of being an Olympian, even though he’s been part of the American program since being added to the junior varsity select team more than five years ago.
DeRozan was on the American team that won the gold medal at the 2014 World Cup but figured the Olympics were an entirely different animal.
“You would think it’s just so farfetched,” he said. “When you look at all the guys who want to be part of USA, all the guys that are doing it, it’s amazing to be here.
“You kind of have an idea from doing the world games, having that feeling of winning a gold medal with that, now you have that feeling that this is 10 times bigger than that.”
That Lowry and DeRozan are sharing an Olympic experience together makes it more special. They, along with Golden State’s Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson, are the only NBA teammates on the American team that faces China to open its Olympic tournament on Saturday (7 p.m.).
“It means a lot, it makes it even more exciting, it makes it more fun, it makes it more interesting to be able to say we did another accomplishment together,” Lowry said.
And it’s also allowed them to continue the bromance that is so familiar to Raptors fans.
DeRozan just missed what would have been an epic 360-degree dunk over a Chinese opponent during an exhibition game and Lowry took full advantage of the chance to crack wise about his buddy.
“I’m kind of glad I did miss it, there’s no telling what would have come from that if I made it,” DeRozan said. “It was a cool attempt, people act like I made it.” Lowry was not one of them. “I’ve seen him miss so much in my life, dunks, 360s, layups,” he joked.