‘He Was the Problem’: DeMar DeRozan Reveals He Was Frustrated Watching Toronto Raptors Win 2019 Championship

DeMar DeRozan is one of the most loyal players you’ll ever find in the NBA. DeRozan still loves the Toronto Raptors, even though he’s no longer a part of the franchise. But why was it frustrating for DeRozan when the Raptors won the 2019 championship? 

Well, for starters, let’s not assume that it was because the team won the championship right after DeRozan was traded away from the franchise. The Raptors immediately won the 2019 championship, just a year after trading DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs. 

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Watching the Toronto Raptors lift the championship made DeMar DeRozan question his abilities

When he retires, DeRozan will inarguably go down in the Raptors’ history books as one of the best to have ever played for the franchise. The California native spent nine years with the team and was their backbone, along with Kyle Lowry in the early 2010s.

However, time called for DeRozan to change teams and he left with a heavy heart. For a player who’s incredibly attached to Toronto, why did DeRozan feel bad when the Raptors won the 2019 championship? 

“For me, it was tough from the standpoint of it started to seem like I was the problem. That was the most frustrating part, like people looking at it like, ‘Oh, are they doing as soon as see soon as he leave? Oh, see, maybe he was the problem the whole time,’” DeRozan stated. 

“That was the most frustrating part for me, and that was the part that sucked and hurt the most.” 

DeRozan’s currently in a different chapter of his life now

DeRozan would be lying if he said Raptors winning the championship didn’t bother him. The swingman mentioned that it hurt him, but he assumed it for the wrong reasons. But it is quite natural, as he had spent numerous years trying to win the title in Toronto, but they ended up winning it right after they left. 

The 31-year-old also earned four All-Star selections during his time in Toronto but has now moved on and is currently suiting up for the San Antonio Spurs. It has been a relatively new chapter for DeRozan in his career, but can he find success under Gregg Popovich’s coaching?

The Spurs are unlikely contenders to win the championship this year or the next two seasons. They’re currently undergoing a rebuilding phase with DeRozan as the center piece. The swingman has great reverence for Popovich which would enable him to put in extra effort in order to restore the old glory days back to San Antonio!

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