DeMar DeRozan recently revisited the emotional fallout from his trade from the Toronto Raptors, expressing his belief that the team would have won the 2019 NBA Championship if he had remained. Reflecting on the 2018 summer trade that sent him to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard, DeRozan stated, “I have no doubt in my mind the same outcome would have happened,” emphasizing his conviction that Toronto’s success was within reach even without the blockbuster deal.

Despite acknowledging the Raptors’ eventual championship win, he added, “Never discredit those guys, they won it, they deserve it,” recognizing their achievement while also revealing his own sense of betrayal. DeRozan conveyed his disappointment by saying, “I was happy for him but sure I definitely like that you know you the only person who could be LeBron that way just wouldn’t work.” This statement underscores his belief that the Raptors had a stronger chance of success with him remaining.

He hinted that the departure of LeBron James to the Western Conference was a crucial factor, stating,, “After a year we just needed peace that kinda pushes on top and peace came to me, LeBron going to the West.” DeRozan felt that LeBron James’ move to the Western Conference provided a critical opportunity for the Raptors, one he believes could have been fully realized if he had stayed in Toronto. Could DeRozan’s presence have altered the course of the Raptors’ championship run?

The 2019 NBA Finals were not just a historic moment for the Raptors, but also a significant turning point in NBA history. The impact of Toronto’s championship win, coupled with the Warriors’ injury woes, reshaped the league’s dynamics and altered team strategies. Understanding what transpired in 2019 provides crucial context for the current state of the NBA and ongoing team decisions.

Toronto Raptors Clinch First NBA Title: Key Highlights from the 2019 Finals

The Toronto Raptors secured their first NBA championship on June 13, 2019, with a 114-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 28.5 points throughout the series, was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second time in his career. Leonard, also MVP in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs, became the only player to receive the accolade in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

The Warriors, who had won three of the last four titles and were aiming for a third consecutive championship, faced significant challenges. Injuries to key players severely impacted their performance. Kevin Durant, returning from a calf strain, ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 5. Klay Thompson, who had been pivotal in the Finals, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Game 6, further depleting the Warriors’ lineup. The absence of these stars, combined with a missed three-pointer by Steph Curry that could have tied the game, marked a tough end to Golden State’s dominant era.

The Raptors’ triumph was also notable for its historical context. The team became the first Canadian franchise to win a major North American sports title since the Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series win in 1993. The Raptors’ coach, Nick Nurse, celebrated his first anniversary as head coach with the victory. Nurse, who had previously coached in the British Basketball League, emphasized that the championship was a culmination of years of hard work and perseverance.

On a personal level, Leonard’s move to the Raptors and subsequent success solidified his legendary status in Toronto. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players to win Finals MVP with two different teams.

The series also saw historic moments involving the Gasol brothers. Marc Gasol of the Raptors and his brother Pau, a two-time Lakers champion, became the first siblings to both win NBA titles.

As the Warriors bid farewell to Oracle Arena after 47 years, moving to the new Chase Center in San Francisco, the Raptors’ victory marked the end of an era and a new beginning for Canadian basketball. Superfan Drake, known for the ‘Drake curse,’ watched the game in Toronto, celebrating with fans in Jurassic Park as the Raptors made history.