DeMar DeRozan continues to view Toronto as residence regardless of spending the vast majority of his NBA profession away from the town.
“This may at all times be residence for me… This was the inspiration of me as a basketball participant, as a human being. This was my first residence. This was the primary the whole lot for me. Nothing will ever substitute that,” DeRozan stated on the Off The Roster podcast.
DeRozan spent the primary 9 seasons of his NBA profession with the Toronto Raptors after they chose him with the No. 9 total choose within the 2009 NBA Draft. He shortly developed into one of many franchise’s central figures and have become a four-time All-Star throughout his time in Toronto.
The 2009-10 season marked the start of a 17-year NBA profession that has seen DeRozan play for the Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings. He has averaged 21.1 factors, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists over 1,264 regular-season video games.
His finest years in Toronto got here through the Raptors’ rise into an Japanese Convention contender. DeRozan averaged 27.3 factors, 5.2 rebounds and three.9 assists in 2016-17, incomes All-NBA Third Staff honors. The next season, he posted 23.0 factors, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per sport whereas incomes All-NBA Second Staff recognition.
DeRozan’s remaining season with Toronto got here in 2017-18, when the Raptors completed with a franchise-best 59-23 file earlier than shedding to the Cleveland Cavaliers within the Japanese Convention semifinals. He was traded to the Spurs that summer season as a part of the deal that introduced Kawhi Leonard to Toronto.
Though DeRozan has since established himself with three different franchises, his statistical manufacturing has remained sturdy. He averaged 22.2 factors, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his first season with Sacramento in 2024-25 earlier than recording 18.4 factors, 2.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 2025-26.
DeRozan was waived by the Kings on July 6, ending his two-season stint with Sacramento. He subsequently agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the Denver Nuggets on September 8.
