DeMar DeRozan recently shared the emotional toll of being traded from the Toronto Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018. During an appearance on the ‘Club 520’ podcast, DeRozan opened up about the deep impact the trade had on him, admitting that he isolated himself for two weeks afterward.
“When I got traded, I didn’t speak to anyone for about two weeks. I wasn’t answering my phone. I was furious. I was hurt, I won’t lie. But then Pop called me out of the blue and said, ‘Look, we didn’t trade you away, we traded for you.’ When I let that sink in, I thought, ‘Damn, he’s right.’” The trade, which saw DeRozan sent to the Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard, stunned many, especially given DeRozan’s strong ties to Toronto. He had been the face of the Raptors, committed to leading the team to success, and had just signed a long-term contract with them. For DeRozan, the trade felt like a betrayal, and the emotional impact was significant.
DeRozan’s connection to the Raptors and Toronto was more than just professional; it was deeply personal. Drafted by the Raptors in 2009, he spent nine seasons with the team, becoming their all-time leading scorer. His loyalty to the city and the franchise was well-known, making the trade even more painful.
During this challenging time, it was Spurs coach Gregg Popovich who reached out to DeRozan, offering words that helped him start to process the situation. Popovich’s message helped shift DeRozan’s perspective, reminding him of his worth as a player and what he could bring to his new team in San Antonio.
Although the transition was tough, DeRozan eventually embraced his role with the Spurs. His time in San Antonio became a key chapter in his career, where he continued to grow as a player and leader. But those first weeks of silence and introspection were a testament to how deeply the trade affected him on both a personal and professional level.
**DeMar DeRozan Reflects on Facing LeBron James**
DeMar DeRozan has always been candid about the challenges of facing LeBron James, especially during LeBron’s dominance in the Eastern Conference. On a recent episode of the ‘Club 520’ podcast, DeRozan spoke openly about the daunting task of trying to defeat LeBron in the playoffs, which seemed nearly impossible during the 2010s.
As a key player for the Toronto Raptors during those years, DeRozan often saw his playoff dreams crushed by LeBron-led teams. Despite leading the Raptors to some of their best seasons, DeRozan and his teammates were repeatedly eliminated by LeBron, whether he was with the Miami Heat or the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron’s dominance in the Eastern Conference was legendary, as he led his teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 to 2018.
Jeff Teague, who also faced similar frustrations, shared his own sobering experiences on the podcast, revealing that he never won a playoff game against LeBron, finishing 0-16 in multiple series.
LeBron’s reign in the East was almost mythical, defined by his incredible consistency and dominance. His combination of scoring, playmaking, and leadership made him an almost unbeatable force in the playoffs. For DeRozan, Teague, and many others, LeBron was the insurmountable obstacle that defined an entire era in the Eastern Conference.