DeRozan’s Toronto bond endures

DeMar DeRozan’s career has taken him across the NBA, yet his connection to Toronto remains unbroken. Speaking on the Off The Roster podcast, he described the city as the place where both his identity as a player and as a man were formed, calling it his “first home” and insisting nothing could replace it. Drafted ninth in 2009, DeRozan spent nine seasons with the Raptors, becoming a franchise cornerstone and a four‑time All‑Star.

His peak years aligned with Toronto’s rise, highlighted by a 2016‑17 campaign of 27.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, earning All‑NBA Third Team honours, followed by a Second Team selection in 2017‑18. That final season produced a franchise‑best 59‑23 record before the trade that sent him to San Antonio. After stints with the Spurs, Bulls and Kings, he signed a one‑year, $3.9 million deal with Denver on 8 September. Through every stop, Toronto’s imprint has endured.