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National Post

Former Raptors all-star DeMar DeRozan shares thoughts about playing in Toronto

DeMar DeRozan may have a beef with one of Toronto's most famous musicians, but he has nothing against the city itself. Article content During a recent appearance on the Run Your Race podcast, the California-raised NBA star – who has become involved in the rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, siding with the latter — shared his feelings about playing the majority of his career north of the border. Article content When asked by host Theo Pinson, a former NBA guard, about his time playing in Toronto, DeRozan was nothing but complimentary towards the Six. Article content 'Talk about hooping in Toronto, in general … How special is Toronto?' Pinson asked. Article content 'I'm glad I didn't get drafted nowhere else. Toronto is always going to be the No. 1 place in my heart,' DeRozan said. Article content 'For everything that they've done for me, did for me, supporting me through my time there.' Article content Article content DeMar's love for Toronto is unconditional #WeTheNorth — Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) May 28, 2025 Article content DeRozan was selected ninth overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Raptors. Article content 'I grew up there, I embraced everything that came with playing there and I just wanted to give everything back to that place when it came to playing basketball,' DeRozan continued. Article content 'That's why I worked so hard, that's why I repped so hard … that fanbase deserved that when it came to sports.' Article content The six-time NBA all-star also said that he wanted the city to be known for more than just the Leafs on the sporting landscape. Article content 'When I got there, I remember just only seeing the Maple Leafs on TV every single day,' he said. Article content 'I wanted it to be respected for basketball as well, I wanted people to think that Toronto, from that standpoint as well. Article content 'That's why it was so dope when we hosted (NBA all-star weekend) there in 2016, to bring more light to the city.' Article content Article content During the interview, DeRozan also praised his former teammate and fellow Raptors great Chris Bosh. Article content Article content DeRozan said that, during his rookie season, he was blown away by the 11-time all-star. Article content 'Listen, CB was cold,' DeRozan told Pinson, according to Basketball Network. 'Listen, bro. I remember our first training camp. I remember coming in training camp and excited for training camp. I'm like, 's***, Chris Bosh is about to be here.' He coming in training camp, but he didn't do training camp, because I think that's the summer before they did the Olympics. He was on the Olympic team, so he was resting. Article content 'But when the season started and how he got to it, he was getting buckets, he was getting 40. I'm like, 'Yo, this motherf***** nice!' DeRozan added. Article content