The Sacramento Kings got their small forward, DeMar DeRozan, in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls. However, it is much less known that apart from De’Aaron Fox, there was another insider from Kings who aided in D-Roz’s pavement to his new team. It was none other than the Kings’ lead assistant coach, Jay Triano, who was also the first NBA coach of DeRozan. Considering the fact in mind that Triano is the one with the most initial connections with DeRozan, a curiosity does pop up about the level of impact he had on DeRozan’s recruitment and what his credentials are. Well, let us dive deep into the mentor who paved the way for Deebo’s entry into the town of Sacramento.

Who is Jay Triano?

Jay Triano is a 65-year basketball coach and a former professional player who belongs to the Canadian roots. He was born on September 21, 1958 in Tillsonburg, Ontario. He made it to the Los Angeles Lakers in the year 1981 when he got drafted. However, he could not play in the NBA itself since the Lakers front office cut him off during the training camp. But he did pick up coaching duties during his time with the Raptors, from 2002 till 2011. This is the time frame where he met DeMar DeRozan.

What was the impact of Triano on DeRozan’s entry into Sacramento?

Now, surprisingly, Triano had a great impact on DeRozan’s deal with the Sacramento Kings. So much so that the front office actually sent him to bring DeRozan from the airport, per The Athletic. Apparently, this was all a part of a strategic move to get DeRozan into the strange city with a touch of familiarity.

Triano, being the HC for the Raptors, which was also DeMar’s debut team, worked in their favor. So, obviously, who better to welcome him there, right? Triano and then-Raptors’ GM Bryan Colangelo to witness DeRozan’s workout in Cali. The duo was impressed by his antics in the gym room, so they decided to select him as the 9th pick.

How did DeMar grow under Jay Triano’s stint as coach at the Raptors?

So, after the promise was kept, DeMar made sure he was, in no way, a disappointment. He kept Triano’s trust and improved him gameplay drastically. At the time, he averaged 8.6 points in his rookie season while improving it to an impressive 17.2 points in the next season. The intriguing part of it was that DeRozan carried his coach’s will even when he left the team in 2011. The 34-year-old Kings forward kept pushing his limits and left the Raptors averaging 19.7 points, playing about 675 games.

And even during his last season, he managed to score 24 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists with the Bulls. So, there is no doubt that Fox and Jay Triano must have dug up their utmost effort to secure DeRozan’s position. Even Deebo himself was quite grateful to the Kings’ front office since the team wanted him as per his media conference on Tuesday. He even went a step ahead to emphasize how Triano affected his free agency period.

Demar DeRozan on Jay Triano’s effect on his free agency period

When Sactown Sports’ Brenden Nunes interacted with the new Kings’ small forward after his press conference, he got candid on Triano’s involvement in his coming over to Sacramento. He was nothing but praises for him as he discussed how having him there helped stabilize his performance. “It helped a lot. He will always hold a special place with me because he was my first NBA coach. He was the first person. I was the only rookie on the team my first year and I started all those veterans”.

Plus, his emotional connection with Triano led him in the right direction, where he channeled his potential to perform his utmost best on the court. “There were times where he pushed me, he challenged me. All those moments I will never forget because it was my first”.

Even after all these years, his words, the hidden admiration, and respect for his first HC are a testament to how much Triano touched his life. But, DeMar’s words weren’t just endearing. They opened Pandora’s box of nostalgia for him. “So, for it to come full circle and to be right back with him, me trusting his word, him seeing how much I’ve evolved over my career, everything just goes hand in hand.”

All DeRozan wanted to do was pay gratitude towards his ex-HC, for his involvement in his overall development and motivation. On top of that, the 34-year-old knew Triano had full faith in him as he was joining the Sacramento roster. “I know he wouldn’t tell me nothing wrong. He wouldn’t allow me to put myself in any type of position that wasn’t beneficial. So, his words definitely went a long way.” 

No wonder Jay Triano’s words during the free agency period affected DeRozan so much that he went along with it. Moreover, DeMar’s feelings for his first league coach depicted that they shared something special more than the league highlights. The feeling of the first that we call carry also shouldered DeRozan’s decision to join the Kings. For now, the Kings are quite a fierce offensive side with the new arrival of DeMar DeRozan. However, if Jay Triano’s decision was right or wrong, it would come to reality in the next season itself.